America is in a public bathroom crisis. It has been all over the news and flooding the web. I don't get the debate over who can use what potty or what sign is on the door. I want to know where the rest of the door is? I would like to smack the guy who invent the stall, smack him and be like "look what you did."
Why do horror films employ terrifying public bathroom scenes? Because the fear is real. Everyone feels vulnerable in the bathroom. It is psychological. No one wants to be "caught with their pants down." Not to let my human show, but women have historically faced major threats in public bathrooms. We should also consider child abductions and how inaccessible most facilities are for the handicapped and for families.
I have much love for establishments that provide public facilities. They provide a true courtesy, so we must respect the authority of each establishment to govern over their own facilities regulations, but it is time to rethink the construction of public bathrooms.
If there were ever a time when the government needed to lend aid this would be it. I say we petition for grants to be given to those that provide public facilities to reengineer the potty house. Some establishments have handicapped/ family bathrooms. They have large doors to facilitate wheelchairs and strollers and are in public view not around some sketch corner, and one door that is full-sized with a real lock. They have wall-mounted baby changing tables, and comfy padded benches that double as adult changing tables. These bathrooms have four walls and a toilet. There is no where for a creeper to hide, no short walls for peepers to creep over or under, no crowd for a child to easily be abducted in or molested, no wondering where to set your belongings so they don’t get smashed. These accommodating facilities accommodate everyone and the only sign needed on the door is "bathroom."
Not to let my feminist show, but I offer a bit of insight to all men that chose to be women: You are not a woman until you have felt some feeling of horror when using a public bathroom. In fact, you have a lot to get use to, and not just in public bathrooms. One blurry-eyed morning you're going to stumble into the bathroom, sit down and bam! You're in the toilet. You're wet, disoriented and you have to pee still ... bad! That’s when you shout out obscenities about leaving the seat up. Ultimately you are considered a nag and everyone has a good laugh at your expense. That is only the tip of a very large iceberg.
If we would of rethought the traditional stalls long ago, America wouldn't be facing a potty crisis. Overlooking the plight of the meek has left our country in ruins. We don't stand up and shout about it because we are thankful to have a bathroom to use, but everyone deserves consideration.
