Public toilet provision for women in Britain: An investigation of discrimination against urination

Abstract

This article investigates the problem of the inadequate and unequal nature of public toilet provision in Britain, where men are required under current statutory to be provided with almost twice more provision than women. The cultural and urological attitudes which legitimate this situation are investigated with reference to medical, sociological, town planning, building, and plumbing literature. It is found that “women's toilets” are a topic which does not quite fit into the jurisdiction of either medical or municipal authorities, although the issue should be seen as a key component of any preventative, public health programme, as was the case in Victorian and Edwardian times. But the need for better facilities is generally not taken seriously by the predominantly male committees who set provision standards. Recommendations are made for the amelioration of the situation by means of introducing mandatory enlightened standards operated through zoning compliance procedures within the town planning system.