Women’s loo queues- what’s going on??

[SanctusInDistress]

I’m in my 50s, so I have plenty of experience using the women’s public lavatories. In the past 5 years, I’ve noticed that the queues are out of this world. And not just in tbe UK. Everywhere I go, the women’s queues are always super long and move very slowly.

is it that people now use their phone whilst in there? A pee and a quick browse?

ladies, what’s going on?! Are our bladders and rectums getting bigger so it takes more time to discharge, or are we using public loos to catch up on our social media when out and about?

is it just me who has noticed this? I don’t go any more often than when I was in my 30s.

Am I being unreasonable for thinking that women’s lav queues are getting ridiculous?

I did recall an interesting chapter in the book Invisible Women about this. Short excerpt below

But even if male and female toilets had an equal number of stalls, the issue wouldn’t be resolved, because women take up to 2.3 times as long as men to use the toilet. Women make up the majority of the elderly and disabled, two groups that will tend to need more time in the toilet. Women are also more likely to be accompanied by children, as well as disabled and older people. Then there’s the 20–25% of women of childbearing age who may be on their period at any one time, and therefore needing to change a tampon or a sanitary pad. Women may also in any case require more trips to the bathroom than men: pregnancy significantly reduces bladder capacity, and women are eight times more likely to suffer from urinary-tract infections than men which again increases the frequency with which a toilet visit is needed. In the face of all these anatomical differences, it would surely take a formal (rather than substantive) equality dogmatist to continue to argue that equal floor space between men and women is fair.

I laughed when I read that - I have experienced that too. If I make the mistake of having a cup of coffee and then going on a long car journey. By the time I get to a loo I have a stomach like a football and it takes ages to go to the loo.

(I don't drink coffee before long car journeys anymore)

I agree with these^ I certainly drink more last few years. However since 2014 we’ve also lost a few shops with free toilets in our city centre so it all adds up.

The doors default to closed now.

Once a queue has started, everyone assumes that they are all in use, and only move forward when someone comes out.
I try to check the other cubicles on my way and push the doors if they are not showing as occupied, then call people forward "This one is empty!"
Then the whole queue glares at me as if I am a pervert.

An increase in the population but no increase in the number of toilets.

This, very few public loos these days, so far more people using what are available.

The issue isn’t the number of loos, it’s the amount of time people spend in them.

If you are capable of holding it (which most people are), then you should. But she actually said "If you cannot hold it and really need to go why not?" So you're talking about a different situation.

Personally, as an adult, I have never actually been in a situation where I actually cannot physically hold it whilst I wait in a queue. In that case you are lucky. Not all adult women are that lucky.

The real question is why are we still providing equal space for men and women rather than say 70% for women and 30% for men.

Women always have and always will take longer to pee, before periods, accompanying children, age etc are taken into account.

Building regulations should be changed to reflect this and when toilets are refurbished, it should be considered if some of the men's can be converted - eg where there are toilets on multiple floors.

Locally we have lost about 10 in Debenhams and will be losing 3 In a museum which is being renovated .
I don't know what some people do in there, but sometimes there are grim smears on cubicle walls.
And the toilet seat lining some people do must take time.

I realise that some women will be changing a tampon or pad or something but I do agree that some women just take a really really long time for no obvious reason.

I have had the experience that a few PP mention of only one cubicle changing over and all the others seemingly having someone who is just sat there for 30 mins. What are they doing in there?

I am very quick and yes if I am in active discomfort, I will use the disabled toilet - I am in and out so quickly that if there isn't anyone actually approaching it, I will be out before anyone could possibly be delayed by me.

Identify as a man and go in the men's.

I once had to take my young son to the toilet in an airport. There was a long queue for the women's, so I took him into the men's.

Got a few odd looks but no one said anything.

I do wonder what some women do in there 😂

I’m always in & out so quickly 🤔

Yeah definitely this! People are drinking more, therefore peeing more. And there are more people and fewer toilets. Plus, yes, I do suspect there is an aspect of people having a quick check of their phones while they're in there. Even an added minute can make a huge difference to queues.

Can I give a shout out to the BIC in Bournemouth which seems to have the right number of toilet cubicles for women. Never been in a long queue there.

Because there is usually double the provision for men and as men are quicker this means there is usually less of a queue.

Absolutely! It's great seeing those long queues for the men's, and very short if any queues for the women's loos.

In some cases, things have improved. I can recall going to a newly built football ground in the late 90’s and there were still twice as many male loos as females. Absolutely crazy. Even if less women went to football, the stadium was also used for concerts. I have never seen queues like it.

However, all the sports grounds (football, cricket, basketball) that I have been to recently have had an appropriate number of loos.

Reasons why women might take a while.

1. Tights. They're a bastard to get up and in the right place, haste means putting a finger through them!!!

1. Wiping can be more complicated post kids

1. Taking kids to the toilet!

In many places we are now sharing with men and the total numbers of loos have been reduced. Queues are longer than I have ever experienced in places like theatres, for example. I have noticed in several places that cubicles that appear to be occupied are in fact empty. They have been locked from the outside to save the cleaners having to clean them.
I went for a hospital appointment this morning and out of the 4 toilet cubicles available (all unisex) one was locked for ages. (Either it was empty, as described above, or someone had collapsed in it. These new unisex ones have floor to ceiling doors). One was blocked and the flush didn't work, one had water all over the floor, with sheets of wet toilet paper everywhere, The last one was covered in smelly urine all over the floor and the seat. These toilets are along a corridor and around a corner. Very quiet with no through traffic.
I reported all this to the staff.
Fortunately, although I was a bit uncomfortable on the bus, I managed to hold on until I got home.

But it’s not all women. I’ve been pregnant and wear tights, I could go three times in the time some people are in there.

Agree with this.

I think some women must just really like the ambience?

I find it mind-boggling how long many people take in the cubicle. I do of course understand some visits might take longer than others, but the vast majority of people take much longer in the cubicle than I do, and while I don't deliberately take my time, I don't rush, either.

There are too few loos for women. We need longer re clothing, periods etc. It's also usually the women who take kids in with them, so more people. Then now you have males coming in too. It gives me such rage.

And of course, due to money many of the doors do not shut!

I do wonder what happens in unisex loos with men queuing. We all know they 'don;t queue'. I reckon they just barge in.