Private Parts in Public Places

Recent debates about who should use which public lavatory have set me thinking about what reasons there might be for segregating the sexes.

Urinals seem to be the key. They must be cheaper to construct, and are certainly quicker to use, than cubicles, and yet are only useful to those who have functioning penises. On the other hand, those using urinals might be shy if observed in the act by others without penises. Freudians used to talk about 'Penis Envy'; perhaps some men are afraid of that even if few women are actually envious.

It therefore seems sensible to have urinals, and to restrict access to those able to use them.

Cubicles, on the other hand, may be used indifferently by people of any physical configuration, except that women sometimes complain that men who use cubicles standing up can make a mess.

That suggests public lavatories with three area: a common area with cubicles anyone may use, an area with urinals only open to those equipped to use them, and a third area with cubicles accessible only to those unable to perform standing up.

Converting existing lavatories would take a while, and a rule segregating people according to their possession or lack of a penis would be most inconvenient to enforce,so the only sensible interim solution is that people who look like women use the ladies' and those who look like men use the gents, which is what already happens most of the time.

Absurd legislation to the contrary in at least one US state appears to me to be just irrational spite by vindictive ignoramuses.