Last night I attended a birthday at a pub.

As men we are used to pretty shabby treatments like sticky floors, wet towels, cubicles that won't lock and the relative lack of privacy at urinals.

Nobody really seems to care, and after a few beers it even seems quaint.

However, last night the men's toilet over-flowed after the rugby, and everything was flooded in the men's room.

The only option was to use the female facilities.

And that's when a lot of guys first saw the difference.

The females get two lovely cubicles that lock, and they also get soap, dry towels, and even air-freshener cans!

Now I know men are supposed to "rough it" in all circumstances, but it's quite upsetting in a way.
It is not a case of "separate but equal".
Men pay the same money at the bar, and get inferior treatment.

OK, it wasn't an upmarket bar, but it made me think from now on to rant a bit more about this to the owners.
Most guys wouldn't, but I know they privately feel the same way.

Is this gender discrimination only in SA, or also in other countries?
Maybe some would argue that some men are pigs, and they broke those things and thus we all deserve that treatment.
I find that a very unsound argument, and it would be taboo nowadays when applied to race, for example.

I think it's less about the bars themselves, but rather how men would tolerate this because to complain makes you a "wussy".
It's actually giving a cultural message that men are not only supposed to be pigs, but that they are happy to be pigs.

Simple...women are more fussy.

Men pee anywhere.

Lol i remember reading about a pub in Australia in about 1950's. This was a hangover from the mineral rush out in the bush but the bar didn't have urinals, just a trough below the bar that water ran through so you could go as you drank.

I really hope this was made up. I have my suspicions though.

I actually know the industry answer to this.

Guys are bathroom slobs. They tend to make messes, tear things up, and be generally stupid about bathrooms. Women are much cleaner and less likely to destroy things just for kicks.

Oh, and guys don't go into the bathroom just to talk, touch up their make-up, and talk smack about their dates.

Well most guys don't I guess is probably more PC.

~Heff

Originally posted by Hefficide

I actually know the industry answer to this.

Guys are bathroom slobs. They tend to make messes, tear things up, and be generally stupid about bathrooms. Women are much cleaner and less likely to destroy things just for kicks.

Oh, and guys don't go into the bathroom just to talk, touch up their make-up, and talk smack about their dates.

Well most guys don't I guess is probably more PC.

~Heff

In that case then surely, as the OP says, this could be seen as some kind of gender discrimination. In my opinion.

Well, as a general reply to various posts I can say it's not "upmarket", but it's also not a "dump", or in a generally dangerous or run down area.

I also don't think that the men's toilets in many pubs and bars are in a shabby condition because men deliberately break things.

If it was a nightclub (where people get off their heads every night) I'd accept that rationale.

I think it's a case of longer term wear-and-tear and deliberately neglecting the men's toilets in favor of the female toilets that eventually leads to a complete collapse in the latter.

So the female toilets are updated and well kept, while I guess the owners think the men don't mind.

And that smacks of gender discrimination.

Clearly that is also market driven, and female customers just won't arrive without a certain standard, but why are we men so silly to accept this?

I wanna let men in on a little secret about the ladies room....especially in a place like a bar. Quite often it is a LOT more disgusting than anything you will find in a men's room. During my years as a bartender I have found tampons (used) strewn on the floor along with maxi pads stuck to walls. And because women will often squat over seats....theres always a chance you might find the toilet seat covered in piss...and worse things. I never understood how ADULTS could be so filthy. Drunk women pissing on the bathroom floor only to sashay back out on the dancefloor like some disco queen. There were times when I would rather squat in an alley than use the ladies room at the bar......and the movie theater bathroom can be worse!

1) men don't take very good care of the bathroom. It's not the city's fault if their workers get tired of cleaning up after pigs. Women take better care of the bathroom because it's their traditional role in society, regrettably.

2) every country is sexist.

That's all there is to it.

I hate gender segregated bathrooms. The idea is retarded. Especially "single hole" facilities. If only one person is in there whys it matter? Ive been in numerous ladies rooms of the single hole variety. if no ones waiting but the mens room is in use why should i wait.

My solution is simple. most multiple occupancy bathrooms have an equal number of waste receptacles and sinks. Lets say its a walmart which would have 5 receptacles in each bathroom, along with 5 sinks in each bathroom.

A group of single occupancy unisex bathrooms with one toilet and one sink, 10 total. Why not? Walls and doors are cheap.

this also solves the transgender bathroom issue

It seems very essentialist to say men deserve their shabby facilities.

Especially where there's hints of male violence as "natural", attitudes become downright concerning.

Not only are men's facilities regarded as created by violent male customers, but that concept appears to be totally acceptable and worthy of excusing as an eternal fact.

Can one really legitimize one form of gender violence without recognizing that this has an effect on all others?