Comments on: Gender and Bathroom Door Signs

By: McGehee

McGehee — Sun, 05 Mar 2006 13:28:49 +0000

...or hoping someone whose gender is obvious enters or emerges from the facilities soon.

Some places, that could be a long wait.

By: DL

DL — Fri, 03 Mar 2006 00:16:59 +0000

Bah
No problem -i recall in "53" at the age of 18 sitting on the john in abar in Yokasuka Japan only to have a cute you lady enter and use the john next to me -after quickly checking I discovered that Japanese custom was to share.

By: yetanotherjohn

yetanotherjohn — Thu, 02 Mar 2006 22:30:31 +0000

One of my favorites was a bar/restaurant that is now closed. They had a urinal in the ladies bathroom and a robotized manikin standing in front of it. When you opened the properly marked door, the head of the manikin turned towards the door. Needless to say, it was quite the conversation piece, especially since the women tended to go in packs.

By: ICallMasICM

ICallMasICM — Thu, 02 Mar 2006 20:23:56 +0000

And what about my favorite 'Bucks' and 'Does'?

By: G A Phillips

G A Phillips — Thu, 02 Mar 2006 19:03:30 +0000

How about a picture of a monkey for liberals of all flavors and the skirt-pants thing for the rest of us, I know the cost for another bathroom will be great, but its P.C..

By: Tano

Tano — Thu, 02 Mar 2006 18:44:47 +0000

Sex differences are biology based.
Gender differences are cultural.
Toilet discrimination is biology based.
Why are y'all referring to gender here?

By: James Joyner

James Joyner — Thu, 02 Mar 2006 18:25:59 +0000

Bhoe, Not very practical for short trips, especially on short notice. And it would not necessarily be that effective in the case of D and H door signs. A visitor to the United States might reasonably learn "Men" and "Women" but not know "Ladies" and "Gentlemen." Let alone "Guys" and "Gals" or "Dudes" and "Dudettes."

By: Bhoe

Bhoe — Thu, 02 Mar 2006 18:18:56 +0000

The alternative, I suppose, is taking a 50/50 chance or hoping someone whose gender is obvious enters or emerges from the facilities soon.

The real alternative would be learning basic words in the indigenous language of the country you're visiting.