Unisex public (at work or in bars, etc.) bathrooms are...

...not something I've come across, and I'm more or less neutral on the subject.

I think if given a choice I would rather use a men-only bathroom, but I think I could deal with it. It would be a bit uncomfortable sitting in a stall next to someone I found attractive. Is this currently a problem for gay men/women?

I guess thats what started the discussion yes... Alley McBeal that is even though I personally don't watch the show... We have had the topic up in lab as a result....

Is this survey inspired by Alley McBeal? *** I don't like urinals either. They're totally.... well, yukky.

i've been in de-facto unisex bathroom situations like backstage at shows, and it's ok, but that's with cast and crew of a show -- in the public at large I'd probably freak and run away I'm *extra* pee shy --dunno how this would affect it.

If a place is small enough that it has individual bathrooms, I can see absolutely no reason for them not to be unisex. I think having multiple person unisex bathrooms would be a bad idea and have never seen them.

I remember them being a big argument against the Equal Rights Amendment. I never understood the argument or the fuss.

You know, in Europe unisex bathrooms are quite normal. When I've stayed at MIT the buildings I stayed in had unisex bathrooms. I think this is a mostly American/Canadian hangup. Are we trained to be prudish? I have some friends who completely refuse to use a unisex bathroom. I don't get it :) *** They don't have urinals, sheesh. Why is a male peeing next to you any different than a female peeing next to you? You don't see either naked. Maybe I go camping and hiking too much and am just used to "people are people". If it's not prudish to feel shy about this, it's at least cultural, for everywhere abroad I've traveled people have not thought anything of sharing bathrooms. And in "open" groups I belong to, (where we'll camp together and such) we don't mind this at all.

i assume you're talking about multiple person unisex bathrooms. i've never run across one, and don't really know how i would react. i like to think i would be at least as okay with it as i am with single sex bathrooms (for a long time, i had trouble peeing if there was anyone else in the room, no matter what their gender).

if you mean a single stall go in, shut the door, no one else gets in at the time and everyone uses it, that isn't a problem at all. If you mean lines of stalls and people coming and going, then society in general (and people in particular) will need to become less obsessed and uptight about bodies. I can easily see random 'perverts' or curiousity seekers just hanging around in them. or others willing to see their bladders explode(it is possible to hold it that long) rather than go into such a filthy and disgusting place. personally, I would be uptight, self conscious and nervous, but if it was the only place to go.. then so be it. it'd take some getting used to, and the first few experiences would definately be bizarre.

I have no problems with it, a stall is a stall. =Usually= anything that goes on in a public bathroom is either 'grooming' (hair, makeup, clothing adjustment) or in the stall. And hand washing but I don't think a lot of people have trouble washing their hands in the same room with someone of the opposite gender.

It's an interesting concept. My biggest hang-up would be that there are things that I just don't want to know that women are doing in the bathroom. You know what I mean?

...I don't like 'em ... got enough trouble with the toilet-seat-up-or-down issue at home ... I worked one place where I was the only woman and the sign on the door said 'latrine' ... we used a knock and lock system (I knocked before I went in, then locked) ... the guys used to not answer when I knocked and would wait until I opened the door before saying something ... must have liked my lady-like gasp!

someone has been watching too much Ally McBeal... What's the big deal anyway.. Haven't you ever read "Everybody Poops"?

I live in a (gender mixed) dorm, and have been sharing a bathroom with all the females on my floor for the better part of a year now. I have no problem at all with it. I wouldn't go around crusading saying we need more or anything, but it's a fine idea. **No, there aren't any urinals in mine, and it's perfectly cool. We share the stalls, showers, and sinks. No one really gives it a second thought.

Womens rooms tend to be cleaner. I'd hate to lose the one chance of getting a non-skanky bathroom.

Specially horrifying for women...

Wow, the answers cover every way that I feel about this.

I use a unisex bathroom every day in the dorms. It's fine with me. There are some drawbacks, though. Women have a difficult time with pee on the seat or untidy conditions while men could care less. Also, men do not currently have lines going into their bathrooms, and this would change.

I grew up in a house with a member of the opposite sex and there was no segregation of bathrooms. I have never quite understood the purpose of doing so with public bathrooms.

The original Worcester Artists' Group space (harlow street in worcester, MA) had unisex bathrooms, up until the Joey Mars years when it became a heavy-duty venue for rock-n-roll shows. No-one had a problem, just the fascist amalgam of building inspectors, fire marshalls, and health code weenies dictated the change.

i haven't used one because i've never seen one. i wouldn't have a problem using one however. i mean, i am assuming that the other people in the bathroom aren't paying particular attention to me anyway, who cares what sex they are... **** as far as "perverts" goes...they can still hang around & be perverse in single sex restrooms, they just have to be perverse about the same sex

I don't think I like the idea. I checked the second option. I don't think it's a matter of being prudish. I have never been in a unisex bathroom but I HOPE they would not contain urinals, yuck. *** that's a good point about perverts hanging around. Also, I would not want guys to see the grooming and gossiping rituals that often go on in women's bathrooms. I have to say I think it's a bad idea all 'round. ***nbarone: I feel considerably less threatened by female perverts than by male perverts.

Other than social conditioning, I don't see why we need a nudity taboo, either. *** EB: I, too, feel less threatened by female perverts than male, but perhaps it has to do with my personal preferences.

I'm fine with unisex one-holers but would find unisex multi-stall public bathrooms uncomfortable at best.

People all over the world go where ever they happen to feel the need to go to the bathroom. They don't care who sees, so why should we. I think it would be very interesting and a real learning experience.

I checked "fine I don't see why not" although I do understand that other people are disturbed by them which is in and of itself a legitimate reason "why not." Also, do one-person-at-a-time bathrooms count as "unisex"? In that case I say "get over it."

kinda hard on the ladies though

A sensible solution to the problem of women having to wait a long time when there are unoccupied cubicles in the mens.