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Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

Feedback on loos to architects and property developers?

30 replies

kenandbarbie · 31/08/2019 10:21

In office buildings.

Discussion was in a meeting with the property developers, architects and office agents about what to provide in a large newly built office building. Mostly men (including my dh who is an office agent). They are all feeling under pressure (by possible future tenants wanting to be pc) to provide gender neutral loos and don't know what to include.

The architects suggestions were:
A row of individual full door height cubicles with basins called superloos, some labelled male, some female, some non gender. No lobby, just off the common circulation areas such as central lift core.

Problem the people at the meeting saw: takes up way more space than normal male and female toilets. Space taken up with toilets can't be rented out. Expensive.

I pointed out to DH that you would also need tampon machines and sanitary disposal boxes in each cubicle as well as a basin. So they'd be even bigger.

Dh boss suggested male and female as normal, be brave and say no to non gender toilets.

Other alternative they discussed, male block, female block and a gender neutral block or toilet cubicle. But then they think they'll have the problem of transgender people not wanting to use transgender toilets and also complaining if they only have one cubicle. I pointed out there is usually only one disabled cubicle so they would have the same provision as a disabled user (without any biological need).

Any feedback I could give to dh? I think it would be helpful to provide a bit of women's input to decision makers.

N.b. I know I'm saying gender not sex, that's because I'm describing their discussion.

OP posts:
Coolingfan · 01/09/2019 09:44

I find the automatic flush sensors often in the wrong place - you reach for the toilet paper and 'flush', you lean out to the side a bit to remove a tampon 'flush'.

orangeshoebox · 01/09/2019 09:52

another thing - wall covering/tiles must be without pattern to prevent cameras being hidden.
for the same reason all metalwork needs to be plain as well.

wibbletooth · 01/09/2019 14:34

There also needs to be enough space to open the door, get into the cubicle, turn around and close the door without the need to squeeze yourself right up and touching the toilet while contorting your body over the loo hoping that no clothes or bag contents touch or fall in...

So many cubicles you go into and the door just skims the end of loo. There’s space for your legs when you sit down but getting in or out is a nightmare!

I once used to have to go regularly to an office where the public ladies loo had blasted glass cubicle doors (it was an investment company that did it deliberately to unsettle people coming to ask for investment) and also the two into the block of lows but at least there was a corner you had to go around. It was horrible and made you feel very insecure and uncomfortable. So solid doors would be another must-have from me. Never really thought that was something that needed to be spelt out!

BaronessBomburst · 01/09/2019 14:44

Superloos are awful. The men pee on the seats, there's a queue at lunchtime as the women use a cubicle to redo hair and make up, and they're too small to fit the tampon bin in.
And putting a mirror in a shared area doesn't work as the men just take the mickey.

sheshootssheimplores · 01/09/2019 14:49

Tell them to make women’s toilets and gender neutral toilets. Sorted.

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