If you were out socialising before the pubs and cafes reopened their in-house services during lockdown, you probably found yourself answering the al fresco call of nature.
If you’ve got a penis, great – you can just find a secluded corner, turn your back, whip it out and no one’s really any the wiser. But if you don’t, you’ve got to find a substantial bush or deserted area, squat down, spread your feet as far as you can to avoid splashes and then try not to fall into the puddle you just created getting back up.
It’s no wonder then that sales of pee apparatus have soared since the start of lockdown.
Shewee – the company that made stand-up equipment famous – has reported a 700% increase over the past five months, with other brands reporting similar.
We know that when it comes to being able to comfortably go in public, men are far better catered for than women and trans people. Queues for the gents seem to be far shorter, public urinals are fairly common and there are often just as many cubicals if men need a little more privacy/have more solid activities in mind.
In fact, the Royal Soceiety for Public Health last year recommended that the UK doubles the number of public loos available to women and trans people. The RSPH published a report which said that more unisex facilities were needed to ensure equal access.
It’s not just a problem in stations, pubs and museums; one in seven council-run loos have been closed since 2010, with 56% of people practicing ‘deliberate dehydration’ to avoid being caught short in public.
The closure of all public conveniences during lockdown no doubt will have seen a disproportionate number of women and non-binary people avoiding going too far from home so that they didn’t have to worry about using a bathroom. For those who were willing, Shewees will have proved a lifesaver.
Of course, using a device still comes with small issues. You’ve still got to pull your pants down over your butt cheeks to gain access – unlike dudes who simply have to unzip their trousers. Knickers also have to be removed or at least squished to the side.
Shewees aren’t an ideal solution but they’re a damn site better for many than having to squat in vegetation or being stuck at home. One wonders what’ll happen in the event of a second wave when pubs and cafes close their facilities yet again and it’s too cold or wet to piss outdoors.
Pandemic aside, the lack of bathroom equality has been a problem that’s raged for years and years. Given that umpteen councils complained about people peeing in public green spaces recently, you’d think that local authorities might reinvest in basic facilities. Let’s hope that’s something more are looking at.
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source https://metro.co.uk/2020/09/05/sales-of-shewees-are-up-700-since-the-start-of-lockdown-13227094/
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