Xiaohongshu
Today is World Toilet Day, an initiative created by the UN to raise awareness of the need to improve sanitation worldwide. According to the UN, as many as 3.6 billion people lack access to safely managed sanitation. So why is this an issue? When there’s a lack of safe toilets, people’s health is at risk as poor sanitation can lead to various issues such as the contamination of drinking-water sources, rivers, beaches and even food crops. This can in turn lead to the spread of diseases among whole populations.
While the UN campaign mostly focuses on the fact that billions of people lack access to toilets in the first place, it’s also important for us to consider the quality and safety of the toilets that we do have access to. Namely, whether they can be accessed by people of all genders and those with disabilities.
What are gender neutral toilets?
Gender neutral toilets are public toilets that are not separated by gender or sex, and instead are intended to be used by all.
Why is this important?
Firstly, gender neutral toilets promote inclusive and diverse thinking. They also make it easier for parents to accompany children of a different gender to the bathroom, which is important for the parents/ carers at UCL and for members of the public who use our cafes. Furthermore, gender-neutral toilets provide a place of safety to lots of different communities with trans and/or non-binary people not having to worry about the concept of ‘passing’ in a gendered bathroom, or about being unsafe because others decide they don’t belong in a gendered bathroom. Further, if someone is non-binary, they may feel uncomfortable using a gendered toilet.
Of course, everyone, no matter their gender, needs to use the bathroom, so having a neutral space to use the toilet is really important. Often, gender-neutral toilets are built as separate rooms, rather than small cubicles, so they provide a sense of security for various people. From an economic point of view, gender neutral toilets can create more available toilets by removing the divisions between gendered toilets, meaning that if built from the get-go, they can save money.
It is also crucial to remember that while gender neutral bathrooms are important to provide safety and privacy, we must still respect gender-segregated bathrooms. This is because there are spiritual and social needs that require a single-gendered bathroom, and these too provide safety and privacy. This may be, but is not limited to, social reasons or for preparation for prayer. It is important as a diverse community that we put the effort to honour those that need single-gendered toilets as well as those that need gender-neutral toilets. This is an integral part of being an intersectional community.
What about accessible toilets?
Accessible toilets are toilets that have been specially designed to better accommodate people with physical disabilities. They are especially useful for wheelchair users, people with mobility impairments, people with bowel and/or bladder conditions, those with balance issues, grip issues or other conditions where support rails are useful, and people with invisible disabilities who find features of accessible toilets helpful.
So, what makes a toilet accessible?
There are several key features that any accessible toilet should have.
Accessible entrance - doorways leading to accessible toilets should be wider than normal, so that wheelchair users have enough space to enter and leave the bathroom. The door should be light, so that people can easily open it. The door should always open outwards, so that it can be opened in case of an emergency, e.g., if someone has fallen on the floor.
Grab rails - grab rails are a crucial feature of any accessible toilet as they provide support, stability, and balance. Without them, toilet use would be impossible for lots of people.
Raised toilet seat - higher toilet seats make it easier to stand up and sit down for people with reduced mobility. Transfer from a wheelchair to the toilet seat is also much easier if the seat is raised as the height between the two is similar.
Low sinks - lower the sinks are easier to use for wheelchair users, so they are an important feature of accessible toilets.
Amenities should be within reach when seated – this includes soap, hand dryers, paper towels and toilet paper holders.
Emergency alarm cord – alarm cords are a crucial feature of any accessible toilet as they provide a way for toilet users to call for help in case of an emergency. These cords should be hung approximately 40 cm from the ground and anyone using the toilet should be able to easily reach them.
It’s important to remember that people who use accessible toilets might not always have a visible disability, that’s why we should always respect someone’s decision to use an accessible toilet.