Female urinal

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Modern "Lady Loo" female urinals from GBH , arranged in rows with partitions

A woman's urinal is a urinal that is adapted to the anatomical requirements of women, it enables micturition in an upright posture and avoiding direct body contact with the object. In addition to urinals designed exclusively for women, various suppliers sell unisex urinals that can be used by women and men alike. Urinals for women are generally less common than purely male urinals and are usually found in heavily frequented public toilets.

background

Construction and use

Body position preferred by women for micturition: full crouch (left) and floating half-crouch or "skier or downhill posture" (right) [1] Body position preferred by women for micturition: full crouch (left) and floating half-crouch or "skier or downhill posture" (right) [1]
Body position preferred by women for micturition: full crouch (left) and floating half-crouch or "skier or downhill position" (right)

In the 1970s, Alexander Kira, a professor of architecture and an expert in plumbing, conducted studies on micturition behavior of both sexes at Cornell University . His aim was to develop sanitary objects that are adapted to the human body and its needs, while also breaking with conventional design guidelines.

Instructions for using a female urinal
Different models of female urinals

On a classic toilet seat, the "correct" use is dictated by the shape of the sanitary object. Among other things, Kira explored the question of which body positions men and women prefer to adopt when there are no external guidelines, for example when urinating in the wild. He examined the trajectories of the urine stream and their controllability as well as the comfort and health aspects of various body positions. While men usually urinate in a standing posture and direct the jet forward by hand, women prefer to take a squatting position. The beam is controlled by the posture of the entire body and is directed vertically downwards to slightly backwards. This position is generally most comfortable for women and involves the least amount of spray.

The models offered today are conceptually very similar and are based on male urinals in shape and design, but are more tailored to the female anatomy . All the models used today have in common that they are used facing backwards in a slight half-squat, the so-called “skier's posture”. This is based on the posture that women usually adopt in conventional public toilets if they are dirty or body contact is not desired.

Advantages compared to the toilet

Public toilets are primarily for the purpose of voiding sought

Urinals offer various advantages over toilets both in terms of maintenance and use. They can be installed in a space-saving manner, and several urinals can be installed on the floor area of ​​a toilet cubicle. These are economically and ecologically cheaper to operate in operation, since less water is needed for the flushing process compared to the toilet; modern dry urinals can even do without water. For the users, there is the advantage of a more hygienic, because contactless, micturition process.

The increased number of need places with the same area results in a faster process with shorter waiting times in front of public toilets. Around 90% of the public toilets are used exclusively for micturition (as opposed to defecation ). Replacing toilets with urinals increases the area used. A study by the University of Ghent found that by installing urinals, up to 30% more people can use the toilet facilities at the same time.

Female urinals are particularly suitable for use in public toilets that are highly frequented at rush hour and have to expect a large crowd, i.e. primarily in facilities such as discos , clubs or other places with a high number of users at rush hour. In addition, mobile women's urinals were developed for use at open-air events, festivals , and free-standing urinals in public spaces.

A 2011 study in Australia found that over half of women surveyed would use a urinal if it was available. In the meantime, there are increasing demands for “urination equality” - equal rights when peeing. A grassroots campaign in Holland caused a sensation in which women used the urinals in men's toilets.

History of the female urinal

American female urinal from JL Mott Iron Works , 1897

The recent development of increasingly creating urinals for women or for use by both sexes does not represent a revolution in the sanitary industry, as some manufacturers sometimes suggest. Rather, it is more the renaissance of a concept with roots in the 19th century. In the early days of public toilets at the end of the 19th century, women's urinals were definitely used; Urinals were less associated with men's toilets than they are now. The Architecture Handbook from 1897 lists “women's urinals with automatic flushing”, with the advantages of less complex installation and water saving also being seen at that time:

Sketch by the Munich City Councilor of a women's urinal, planned for the nationwide introduction into the city's public toilets, 1906
Women's urinals (probably from Villeroy and Boch ), 1908

“ Following the example of England, urinals have even been used with success for women in recent years. These consist of so-called 'urinettes' or porcelain seats with automatic flushing and are particularly installed in the toilets of railway waiting rooms, in shops where many girls are employed, in theater buildings where there is a large choir or ballet. […] Such 'urinettes' have the great advantage that they can be set up where a 2-inch drainpipe is available, while the flush toilets usually used by women for urinating require a 4-inch waste pipe. "

- Handbook of Architecture: "Drainage Systems in American Buildings", 1897

In Germany, the female urinals could not prevail at that time, they were only installed occasionally. In 1902, on the initiative of the municipal building authority, the decision was taken in Munich to install women's urinals across the board in public lavatories. In a letter to the Kirchmair board of directors explaining the plenary resolution of the building magistrate of February 13, 1902:

" It was suggested from several sides to abolish the various classes of toilets, to design the facility uniformly and to charge a fee of 5 Pfennig for all toilets, with the exception of free toilets (this corresponds to class II), and free toilets in all existing toilets set up. There was also talk of the establishment of women's urinals, such as those found in other cities. "

- Munich City Archives 1902, quoted from Möllring (2003)

This idea was pursued, so that plans for concrete implementation can be found in the documents of the building city council of January 13, 1906:

“ The basins should be made of cast iron and have an enamel coating. A seat board is not to be provided. On the other hand, it might be advisable to attach brass rods above the basin, which extend from one wall to the other and are fastened there. Older and weak people could get hold of this bar. Intermittent flushing every 10 minutes might be necessary for both pools. [...] For the first attempts to set up "women's piss locations", it might be advisable to choose their locations near playgrounds so that nannies or other female persons supervising the children can use them. "

- Munich City Archives 1906, quoted from Möllring (2003)
Female urinals by the American company Manstone from the 1940s

In the architecture guide “Munich and its buildings” from 1912, the women's urinals in three public toilets (Lerchenfeldstraße, Ottostraße and Max-Weber-Platz ) were mentioned in the chapter “Needs facilities” . In contrast to the actual toilets, these were intended as "free toilets", ie for free use. These enjoyed great popularity and were highly frequented. In the course of the 1910s, the expansion was not pushed further, probably also because funds were lost due to the free use of the city treasury. Finally, the free toilets for women were converted into paid institutions. An application by one of Munich's first female city councilors in 1922 to reintroduce these free toilets was initially rejected by the all-male management of the bathing and toilet facilities.

The development at the turn of the century was not followed up in Germany; these first approaches were increasingly forgotten.

Until the 1970s, women's urinals were available from various manufacturers in the USA, for example the sanitary stand from American Standard Companies . Various concepts and prototypes were developed in the 1980s and 1990s, but most of them did not develop beyond the design stage. Only since the turn of the millennium have female urinals been used again and have been sold commercially.

Current distribution

Note on the women's urinals in front of a public toilet in Frankfurt / Main

Women's urinals are becoming more and more popular, as the advantages of urinals, namely quick and hygienic use and lower water and space consumption, also apply to women. Increasingly, urinals are being developed that can be used by all genders. While urinals for men can be found almost everywhere in public toilets, women's urinals , which are specially designed for use by women , are still a niche product . According to Mete Demiriz, professor for sanitary and bath technology at the Westphalian University of Gelsenkirchen , are next to social conventions and economic considerations against the spread of female urinals:

“ It is not lucrative for the manufacturers because with every female urinal they would sell less normal toilets. Both the selection and the production of public toilets are also a male domain. If the women don't get involved, nothing will come of it. Once upon a time there was a large German company in my laboratory that wanted to produce my development. There were also secretaries who tried it. Then the CEO's wife said: 'What nonsense, I always sit on it at home.' That died again. But it is not intended for use at home. "

- Mete Demiriz

Women's urinals for public toilets

Women's urinal "Lady P" at Dortmund Airport

In the 1990s, a number of prototypes for female urinals were developed, of which only three made it to market maturity and are used today: the "Lady P" from Sphinx Sanitair , the "Lady Loo" from GBH and the "Girly" from Ceramica Catalano , which has been awarded several design prizes.

In 2011, female urinals were introduced on a test basis in public toilets in Frankfurt am Main .

All female urinals on the market today are wall mounted and are used in a mid-height, "skiing" position. In the past there were models that were used in a full squat (similar to Asian squat toilets ) such as the "Peeandgo" by Chen-Karlsson, but they were unable to establish themselves on the market.

Unisex urinals for public toilets

In the course of the development towards unisex toilets , designers and developers are increasingly faced with the challenge of creating gender-sensitive solutions. Various models have now emerged that can be used comfortably by women and men alike.

Both Austin (Texas) and Berlin are to have unisex toilets with unisex urinals that can be used by both sexes. In Berlin, when the operator contract for public toilets with Wall GmbH expires, a new toilet concept for the public space of the city of Berlin is being developed. Urinals that can be used by both sexes are an essential part of the facilities planned as unisex toilets in the future . The proposal of the planning committee provides for the choice of the Girly by Catalano . Although it is designed as a female urinal, it should also be able to be used by men.

“ There are some public toilet facilities in the city that only offer urinals for men and completely exclude women and their toilet needs. The Senate ruled that this is not acceptable in terms of equality. Because they don't want a crowd of wild peeing men in the city, the facilities are wisely not closed, but converted into unisex toilets that can be used by all genders [...] Berlin has now heroically taken on the problem and is planning urinals for women and men in all of them public toilets. That is in the toilet concept for Berlin that the Environment Senate presented with the company Zebralog and the Technical University of Berlin last week. For gender equality [...] The advantage of the women's urinal is that it catches the urine stream earlier and thus avoids the otherwise unavoidable splash and is simply more hygienic. The urinal can be used by both sexes. So everything and everyone is thought of. "

Mobile urinals for outdoor use

Pollee - a mobile female urinal for outdoor use

At the Roskilde Festival 2011, the world's first mobile urinal for women was presented under the name Pollee and proved to be a great success. The pollee urinal is primarily intended for open-air events, especially music festivals , and is sold as a women's urinal, but can in principle also be used as a unisex urinal.

The successor model has been in use under the name LaPee since 2019 . While Pollee was supposed to test the possible uses for a mobile women's urinal as a prototype, LaPee can be manufactured industrially and can be integrated into the systems of existing sanitary providers.

Future development and strategies of implementation

The increased introduction of female urinals is called for by various experts and organizations to create a gender-equitable sanitary situation, although problems in the practical implementation have to be overcome.

At the moment, two different arrangements are being implemented in practice: in rows (usually with a privacy screen as a separating element), comparable to male urinals, and in cubicles like classic toilets. The latter solution, however, is more of a compromise that is probably not sustainable. A main advantage over the classic toilet, the small construction area, remains unused. While the number of places of need is noticeably increased in a row arrangement and thus faster use is possible, this remains the same in the case of a cubicle arrangement, whereby the classic toilet is still limited in its function. The cabin solution is often used with the argument that women are unfamiliar with the use of urinals and are associated with feelings of shame. However, this is often the case with men too, although there is always the option of switching to a classic toilet seat, provided that using the urinal is associated with feelings of shame (e.g. paruresis ).

This problem arises all the more in the context of the increasing development towards unisex toilets for men and women. Merging the toilets raises the question of how urinals for both sexes should be arranged in the room. While toilets are usually accommodated in cubicles with lockable doors, urinals are usually installed freely in a row in gender-separated toilet rooms. This design leads to a lower space requirement and thus more opportunities to urinate, which is one of the main advantages of urinals in addition to hygienic and economic reasons. One possibility would be to continue to offer urinals in rows. These could be separated by so-called pubic walls , whether separated into male and female urinals or as unisex urinals . It is questionable, however, whether the lower level of privacy compared to conventional toilets would meet with acceptance. Due to sociocultural conventions, the open, communal use of urinals by men and women currently seems unusual for many users. An alternative would be to accommodate urinals for both sexes in cubicles in the future or to continue offering them only for men. However, this would at least limit the advantages of urinals mentioned above. The lawyer, author and moderator Marcus Werner sees a significant disadvantage in unisex toilets if they lead to the abolition of urinals in a classic row arrangement:

“ So it would be very, very sad if the unisex loo trend ultimately resulted in men having to stand in line because every urinal would be housed in a cubicle, which would dramatically reduce the number of basins. In sum, that would be a waste of time across all genders. Men lose time without women gaining any [...] There can be unisex urinals there. But please also have the (men's) pissoire that can be ergonomically mounted in a row. That relieves everyone. "

- Marcus Werner

Urinals arranged in cubicles could often not prevail in previous concepts; the advantages over conventional toilets were not apparent due to the constant space requirements. After 13 years, the four women's urinals in the Salzburg Congress Center were removed in August 2015 due to a lack of interest. They were again replaced by conventional toilet seats.

In the unisex toilets planned for Austin (Texas) in 2017 , the urinals are to be located in an area separated from the entrance area by a door. These are designed as unisex urinals and are openly arranged in a row within this area. This would mean that men and women would use urinals that are freely located next to each other in the room (unless a toilet that is still available) is used. According to the planning architect Richard Weiss, this would create the greatest possible freedom of choice for all genders:

“ The ultimate goal is that everyone should be able to do what they want to do, where they want to do it. "

- Richard Weiss

See also

literature

  • D. Kyriakou, J. Jackson: We Know Squat About Female Urinals. In: Plumbing Connection. Fall 2011, pp. 54–59. (Original document)
  • B. Möllring: Toilets and urinals for women and men: the design of sanitary objects and their use in public and private areas. Dissertation at the Berlin University of the Arts, Faculty of Design. 2003. (original document)

Web links

Commons : Female Urinals  - Collection of pictures, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b c d e f g B. Möllring: Toilets and urinals for women and men: the design of sanitary objects and their use in public and private areas. Dissertation at the Berlin University of the Arts, Faculty of Design. 2003. (original document)
  2. ↑ Designed-In Safety. The radical reformers who sought to redesign the American bathroom. - Places Journal
  3. ↑ The History of the Bathroom Part 5: Alexander Kira and Designing For People, Not Plumbing. - Treehugger
  4. ^ AK Kira: The bathroom . Penguin Books, 1976, ISBN 0-14-004371-3 .
  5. ↑ Urine trajectories by sex | Alexander Kira. - Society Pages
  6. ↑ a b D. Kyriakou, J. Jackson: We Know Squat About Female Urinals. In: Plumbing Connection. Fall 2011, p. 54 (PDF)
  7. ^ Scientists have revealed why women take longer in the bathroom than men. - News
  8. ↑ Dutch women snap selfies in public urinals to protest lack of female toilets. Campaign comes amid a nationwide debate over gender equality sparked by a court ruling on public urination. - EuroNews
  9. ↑ Handbook of Architecture. Supplement to Part 3: Drainage Systems in American Buildings. Bergsträsser, Stuttgart 1897. - Separate counting
  10. ↑ a b The name "Frauenpissoir" can be a deterrent. The women's urinals in Berlin are a big topic right now. In: Now (Süddeutsche Zeitung)
  11. ↑ Girly System by Catalano (PDF file; 105 kB) ( Memento from October 10, 2007 in the Internet Archive )
  12. ↑ Urinals for women are being tested ( Memento from July 1, 2013 in the web archive archive.today ) - ZDF
  13. ↑ Peeandgo, The Lady Urinal with a Splash of Gold - Gizmodo
  14. ^ A b c One Texan's solution to the transgender bathroom battle: 'All-gender urinals' - The Washington Post
  15. ↑ Julia Wadhawan: Toilet concept for Berlin: Public toilets also have urinals for women In: bento.de , August 7, 2017, accessed on December 12, 2017.
  16. ↑ Revolution while standing: Berlin introduces urinals for women - Energy
  17. ↑ Peeing on Matteo Thun's designer piece while standing ( memento from December 24, 2017 in the Internet Archive ) - Tegernsee voice
  18. ↑ Contract with Wall expires: New toilet concept for Berlin - W&V
  19. ↑ In Berlin women will be allowed to pee standing up in future - Viennese
  20. ↑ Pollee by UiWE. In: dezeen.com
  21. ↑ pollee - the female urinal at Roskilde Festival. In: vimeo.com
  22. ↑ More pee equality: Now comes the urinal for women - look
  23. ↑ Instead of queuing: the pink festival urinal for women - Euronews
  24. ↑ Why Cities Need To Install Female Urinals - Huffington Post
  25. ↑ Are Female Urinals The Future Of Women's Toilets? Just Hear Me Out On This One - Bustle
  26. ↑ Out in 90 seconds: Female urinals will halve peeing time for women, says Hong Kong Toilet Association Todayonline
  27. ^ U. Lembke: Everyday practices for the production of sex bodies or: Why unisex toilets are constitutionally required. In: Journal of Legal Sociology. Volume 38, No. 2, 2019, pp. 208–243 doi: 10.1515 / zfrs-2018-0017
  28. ↑ Equal rights in the toilet - urinals for everyone! - Deutschlandfunk Nova
  29. ↑ Toilets and urinals for women and men (PDF file)
  30. ↑ Markus Werner: Berlin's Pissoire for Women: A Good “Business Model”? With its new so-called “toilet concept”, the city of Berlin wants to turn women into pissers with equal rights. With special urinals. Our columnist is a man - and has an opinion on it In: Wirtschaftswoche. accessed on December 16, 2017.
  31. ↑ Urinal for women - Deutschlandfunk
  32. ↑ Kongresshaus: Ladies urinals will be removed. In: orf.at , August 12, 2015, accessed August 23, 2015.
  33. ↑ Alamo Drafthouse founder proposes gender-neutral bathroom design - Fox News