Toilet queues disproportionately impact women: what Australians are considering doing about unfair toilet queues

By Sarah McLeanABC

• New analysis shows women are 34 times more likely than men to queue for the toilet.
• A researcher says there are often not enough cabins for women.
• In Australia, the Australian Building Codes Board wants to reduce the problem by imposing revised standards that would increase the minimum number of stalls in women’s toilets in some new buildings, including theaters and cinemas.

Slowly and painfully crawling to the toilet in a never-ending queue is a situation most women would prefer to avoid.

But for theater artist Libby Trainor Parker, it can also mean making her audience run during intermission so she’s back on stage in time for the second act.

“As a performer, women’s lines in the restrooms can be so hectic that it can delay the performance quite significantly, especially during intermission,” Trainor Parker said.

“I’ve been known to go to the men’s house occasionally, if things get really dire.”

The Adelaide comedian and cabaret performer is all too familiar with the long queues that often snake around women’s toilets.

And she’s not alone: ​​a new analysis reveals that women are 34 times more likely than men to queue for the toilet.

“It’s really frustrating. As soon as you see the line, I think everyone says, ‘Ugh, here we go again,'” Trainor Parker said.

“You just know you’re not going to be able to have a drink before you have to go home, or you’re not going to be able to socialize, and you’re going to be there for hours.

“(And) you just see the men coming in and out very quickly, just like a nice production line.”

After sitting on both sides of the curtain, she said long wait times were a nuisance for performers and customers alike, and admitted that on one occasion she “didn’t make it” .

“It was really bad, because I had to go on stage. Then I had to change my whole costume, which changed the show a little bit,” Trainor Parker said.

“There were other times when I had to plan my departure and miss the end of a good show.”

Historically non-inclusive public spaces

Churchill scholar and public toilet researcher Katherine Webber said several factors contributed to the “common” sight of women queuing to use the toilet.

These included pregnancy, menstruation and the young children that accompanied them – all of which, according to Webber, led to longer and more frequent bathroom visits for women.

“Also, sometimes our clothing and accessories – such as our bags – can make it very difficult to use the toilet very quickly,” she said.

A more important factor cited by Webber was public planning requirements.

“Historically, when public spaces were built in industrial cities, public toilets for women were often not included, they were only built for men,” she explained.

“So it took a long time for public spaces to include women’s restrooms.”

While women’s restrooms must now be built according to national building codes, Webber said facilities often lack enough stalls for smooth circulation.

“Men have a choice; they can get in and out and use the urinals pretty quickly,” Webber said.

“(But) when we look at women’s bathroom design, there often aren’t enough stalls for women.”

Australia’s proposal for change

The issue of queues for women’s toilets has been raised in a new proposal from the Australian Building Codes Council.

The agency — which writes the national building code — is seeking to increase the minimum number of stalls in women’s restrooms required in new single-screen theaters and movie theaters.

Chief executive Gary Rake said the agency had undertaken an analysis to quantify the problem.

“In entertainment venues, like a theater, there are very particular peak times, like right before the show, at intermission and immediately after the show,” Rake said.

“In the worst case scenario, we could see women queuing for 13 minutes, compared to just nine minutes for men. That’s a difference of 50 percent and it’s something we want to correct.”

If approved, the council’s proposal would change the state building code and increase the number of stalls built in women’s restrooms.

“A small facility with a target capacity of 300 people would, at the moment, have four women’s closets. Under our revised proposal, that would increase by 50 percent to six,” Rake said.

“If we move to a larger theater, with a capacity of around 5,000 people, we currently have 34 closets, and under the new proposal we would increase that number to 46.”

Rake said that, depending on circumstances, women could still wait between three and seven minutes longer than men — but the proposal would reduce the time women spend waiting in line during a venue’s busiest times.

“For smaller facilities, some of the worst lines would be reduced to as little as three minutes,” he said.

“There will be many times where, under these new arrangements, there will no longer be a queue, and that’s the kind of benefit we’re really looking for.”

If approved, the decision to adopt the new standard would be up to states and territories – but Rake said he hoped for a “harmonized approach” across the country.

“It’s worth solving as a community for health, comfort and economic reasons. It’s in everyone’s best interest to make things better,” he said.

“Solving the problems of the online world”

Webber said the agency’s proposal was a step forward in addressing an “equity problem.”

“I think there is an opportunity to expand this proposal to different types of buildings,” Webber said.

“Improving access to gender-neutral or accessible toilets for families, trans and gender diverse people could also reduce the waiting list for women’s toilets.”

The idea of ​​having more toilets was welcomed by Trainor Parker, who needs quick access due to endometriosis and pelvic pain.

She said that while it could be “really, really tricky” for those who — like her — just couldn’t hold it together, standing in line with others could spark unlikely friendships.

“I have to say I’ve met some of the best people in a bathroom queue. I think we have the best conversations – we solve the world’s problems in a bathroom queue,” Trainor said Parker.

“But I also think it’s very difficult for people with health problems, pregnant people and people with anxiety to go to the toilet.

“Having more toilets can help with that sort of thing.”

– This story was first published by ABC