Access and exclusion

Abstract

The purpose of this analysis is to discern how the binary gender segregation of public toilet facilities in North America affects demographics of gender and sexual marginalisation. Though often taken for granted, public toilets present examples of institutionalised services that both reflect and manifest social inequality. In particular, gender and sexual minorities risk facing methods of social discipline, ranging from discomfort to expulsion and hostility; the binary method of toilet segregation is a visual erasure of identity and recreates restrictive norms. Concurrently, failure to address specific needs results in inadequate design for female users, trans people, individuals with disabilities, and heterogeneous families. There are numerous strategies for improvement that include grassroots activism, legal routes, and appeals to business owners and building designers. In light of the complexity of problematic aspects regarding restroom use and design, there exists a need for a multifaceted and integrated approach, to create coalitions, and ensure greater accessibility to this basic human right.