WASHROOMS FOR ALL We all agree that equality is a good thing, so unisex washrooms make perfect sense. But are there
any disadvantages to this new style of toilet, and what qualities should they retain from the old-style gents’ and ladies’? Amelia Baker from washroom hygiene supplier Tork asks this question.
Unisex washrooms are everywhere. They have become common in modern bars and cafes where less room in the loo equals more table space.
They are increasingly opening in universities and schools as a growing band of people no longer wish to be defined by gender. And they are appearing in trendy offices and start- ups as a statement against the more traditional style facilities of the past.
On the face of it, unisex washrooms appear to be a good thing. Men and women alike are constantly grumbling about their washrooms so any attempt to standardise them should potentially please everyone. Women complain about the long queues for a limited number of cubicles while some men find the all-male washroom space intimidating.
Unisex washrooms put an end to the two-tier system where women’s toilets offer hand creams and flowers
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while the gents’ are grubby, graffiti- covered spaces with a few urinals and perhaps a single cubicle. And washroom providers claim there are other benefits as well.
Combining the toilets and providing a common area for hand washing takes up less room which can be a major benefit in restaurants, bars and offices where premium floor space is expensive.
Unisex facilities also satisfy the growing demand for gender-neutral washrooms that can be used comfortably by everyone. Several schools and universities in the US and Canada now offer transgender washrooms, and these are also being planned for Tokyo ahead of the 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Some people believe that unifying the washrooms will prevent women from having to face long queues. Shanghai opened its first unisex washrooms
in a busy park last autumn with the specific aim of reducing queueing time for women.
And others feel that a female influence will have a positive effect on male washroom users. In March this year Glasgow City Council announced plans to install unisex toilets in three new primary schools in an attempt to improve behaviour and reduce bullying and vandalism.
So, unisex washrooms appear to be an eminently practical solution. But do we actually want them?
Moves by UK primary and secondary schools over recent years to introduce unisex washrooms for cost and efficiency reasons have infuriated parents who fear they could compromise hygiene, privacy, safety and security.
Meanwhile, online forums relating to unisex washrooms at work reveal that women tend to be uncomfortable about sharing hand washing facilities
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