The long running tradition, iconised by the floating head stick figure man and triangle bodied woman symbols, of oppressive toilet gender segregation is corroding. The concept of a unisex toilet is on the rise. Small bars and clubs with only one disabled toilet at all are forced by necessity to accommodate for both genders. But, large nightclubs are also buying into the trend. Clubs like The Ivy offer large designated spaces with private cubicles for anyone to use. Tank is similarly organised with a shared mirror and hand basin area surrounded by private cubicles and a covered urinal dome. The private cubicles marked as male or female within the same bathroom is also common. In these types of bathrooms, it is usually acceptable for patrons to enter a cubicle not signified by their assumed gender… or at least I often use just whatever is available.
I think this trend is for the better. We should all thank the show Ally McBeal for popularising the concept of a unisex bathroom. No longer will there be unfairly long lines for the women’s bathrooms while men stroll passed you for their second whizz since you’ve been waiting! These bathrooms also tend to use space more efficiently as only one set of hand basins/mirrors are required. This means the actual cubicle tends to be roomier. There is also the much talked about, but probably less acted upon, prospect of having sex in these toilets. Whatever their appeal is to you, there is some proper etiquette you should respect.
1. Do not use the cubicle as a quiet place where to make a 20 minute phone call. They may be cozy and lush with a built in vinyl couch, but don’t occupy them for longer than necessary. If you really need to speak to someone who isn’t out at the awesome club with you, then text!
2. Do not cram all your friends in with you. This one probably applies to men as well, but we know it’s mainly us girls who like to hold each others hands while we pee. These larger cubicles make this more inviting as well. But it is proper etiquette to resist the group pee as you take up unfair amounts of cubicle time and tend to leave more mess.
3. If you finish the toilet paper, tell the person entering after you. This gives them the opportunity to grab some from another cubicle or at least some paper hand towels.
4. Guys, lift the seat up. Some places don’t have urinals, so men share the same bowl as women. It’s ingrained in you from a young age, but some guys are still just too lazy. Seriously, just do it. Nobody likes wiping the piss off a toilet seat before they sit.
5. Girls, do not hog the basins for make up reapplication. People need to wash their hands. The club is so dark nobody will tell that you’ve reapplied your blush.
Enjoy the wonder of unisex bathrooms. A great place to make new friends, swap outfit compliments and commentary on modern music!
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