The UK is focusing quite a bit on bathrooms right now. The government is favoring single-sex toilets, making them the default in new non-residential buildings. Pushing for even more privacy, these guidelines are promoting something called self-contained toilets, which have a toilet and a basin for handwashing. Proponents believe that this will help ensure protection, especially for women and girls. In a statement, Kemi Badenoch, minister for women and equalities, said, “It is important that everybody has privacy and dignity when using public facilities. Yet the move towards ‘gender neutral’ toilets has removed this fundamental right for women and girls.”

The UK government requested a “call for evidence” in relation to this issue. More than 17,000 responses were recorded, showing a variety of opinions. According to the government, the most common words mentioned were “dignity” and “privacy.” Most seem to focus on protections for women, fearing that bathrooms may be in a place where their safety is most at-risk. The thinking appears to be that these toilets will guarantee the separation of men and women, which many view as crucial to protecting access and privacy.

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