PC Toilet Training

At first glance, the sign on the door is vaguely reminiscent of all those old fallout shelter signs offering safe harbor from nuclear Armageddon.

On second glance, though, you notice three distinct symbols protruding from the circle inside the triangle — representing male, female and, well, “other.”

Confused? Who wouldn’t be?

Welcome to the world of gender-neutral restrooms. The halls of power are no longer the front line. Instead, the stalls of power are where the battle of identity politics is being fought, and lost.

The halls of power are no longer the front line. Instead, the stalls of power are where the battle of identity politics is being fought, and lost.

Variations of the signs range from the more traditional stick-figure man, woman image and a third figure split into half man-half woman, to a drawing of a toilet with a message proclaiming the restroom has been liberated from “gender binary.”

Some believe the signs are an indication of an evolution into a more fair and healthy culture, the acceptance of transgender as a third “sex.” But there is a huge problem here. That inclusiveness taken to an extreme leads to exclusivity. In this case, those being excluded are the women, who prefer not to run into a guy in a public restroom — even if that guy is wearing a fabulous dress and a killer pair of stilettos.

A Sacrifice for Political Correctness
As politically incorrect as that point of view may be, it raises the question of whose comfort is being sacrificed.

Sacrifice and change on the part of the majority to protect the rights of a minority can be a positive trade-off. The history of this country is filled with such balances. But is this issue really one of those times?

Not all trade-offs are created equal. Case by case seems a better policy than a rush to reform for reform sake, or because it’s the politically correct thing to do.

A half man-half woman stick figure symbol identifies a particular restroom as having been liberated from “gender binary.”

A study by the University of Massachusetts Amherst was among the first to analyze the restroom revolution. Lately, it seems the conversation is becoming one-sided as more people race to prove their sensitivity credentials.

Target stores still have separate restrooms for men and women, but for how long? The retail giant recently announced it was phasing out gender-based signs in some departments, including toys.

“Distinguishing products for girls and boys is unnecessary and may be harmful,” the company said.

Given that position, how long before the ladies room signs are replaced with any one of 24 unisex restroom signs available for purchase online?

What’s not getting attention, in this quest for gender-neutral everything, is that a restroom isn’t just a restroom.

The Names May Change but…
Consider some of the names for public restrooms: ladies room, powder room, little girl’s room. A restroom for women also used to be a place to refresh and re-do your face — maybe even collect your thoughts before re-entering the fray of your day. The “rest” in restroom had some validity. In this new era of unisex communal facilities, many women want to get in and out as fast as possible. Restroom may be a misnomer; anxiety room may be a more apt description.

Most women prefer not to run into a guy in a public restroom.

In some cases, those who are uncomfortable with gender-neutral restrooms will be redirected to more private facilities on a different floor, down a long hallway, or even in an adjacent building. Or maybe not. If you don’t like it, you might be told to take it up with human resources. In other words, this is your headache now.

Years ago a restroom was also called a W.C. — water closet. Change the W to a P and nail that on the door of a restroom. No confusion now. Everyone knows what P.C. means these days.