Last Updated on 2023-03-26 , 12:04 pm
Maybe you’ve not noticed this, but in certain public toilets in Singapore, some of the female toilet main entrance doors are often left closed, while the male ones are open.
Have you ever wondered why?
If you think about it, it doesn’t really make sense.
The thing is, in a male toilet, there’re urinals that are pretty much open for all to see when a guy is peeing—so shouldn’t it be the other way around?
Well, it seems like the placement of the urinals is done in a way that is completely out of view from the outside of the main entrance.
According to A Guide to Better Public Toilet Design and Maintenance by the Restroom Association (Singapore), the layout of the urinals must not be seen by the outside, not even via a mirror near the entrance.
Guys need their privacy, too. In the same publication, it is also revealed that it is recommended not to have any door for the main entrance.
This is to minimize hand contact (just imagine someone using the door without washing his hands) and also to allow better air ventilation. In other words, it is therefore suggested that no doors should be at the entrance.
So, what’s with the phenomenon of some male toilet main entrance doors staying open while the female one are closed?
There’re two theories: it’s all due to habit and, to some extent, the females’ better hygiene behaviour.
The first theory is that it has become a habit and people started doing that: when Coffeeshop A does that, Coffeeshop B does that as well…etc. They might not have seen the publication by the Restroom Association, and based it solely on hearsay.
The second theory is that females tend to be more hygienic, and therefore usually wash their hands after doing their business more often.
As mentioned, one of the key reasons why main doors are not preferred is to minimize contact—we’ll need that for guys because there’re more guys not washing their hands after using the toilet, whereas girls would usually do so (plus check their make-up, their hair…etc).
Needless to say, regardless of whether the main entrance door is closed or open, here’s one suggestion: close the damn door when you use the cubicle. It’s really frustrating to see someone peeing when you want to shit so badly.
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