Japan’s New Guidelines for Women’s Toilets Have Men Online Hopping Mad

4 min read

Just now

The move is meant to address long lines that have made national news.

By Jay Andrew Allen

Life can be hard as a woman in Japan. On top of sexual harassment, political underrepresentation, and shouldering an unfair share of housework, women in the country suffer another indignity: long toilet lines.

The lack of sufficient public women’s toilets has frequently made headlines in Japan over the past year. In response, Japan’s government recently issued new guidelines for toilet construction. The backlash online has been as predictable as it is ridiculous.

Making women’s toilets a priority

The dearth of public women’s toilets became news last year after 60-year-old paralegal Momose Manami made headlines for her research on the issue. Her survey found that public restrooms (in train stations, etc.) had 1.8 times as many facilities for men as for women.

Critics pounced on Momose’s study. Men, in particular, were faux-outraged, arguing that it’s only natural since men’s restrooms can have space-saving urinals. By this…