99% Invisible Where Do We Go From Here?
4 snips
Sep 9, 2020 
Sandy Allen, a reporter and writer, shares their personal journey as a non-binary and transgender individual navigating public restrooms. The conversation highlights the societal implications and historical roots of gender-segregated bathrooms, showcasing the ongoing debate around accessibility. Sandy discusses innovative design solutions aimed at creating inclusive multi-user restrooms for all. The episode also emphasizes the importance of thoughtful signage to foster community and acceptance, challenging traditional binary representations in public spaces.
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Sandy's Bathroom Struggle
- Sandy Allen, a non-binary and transgender reporter, struggles to find accessible bathrooms in New York City.
- They describe the anxiety and challenges of navigating gender-segregated restrooms.
Bathrooms as Sites of Conflict
- Public bathrooms have historically been sites of conflict, reflecting societal anxieties about inclusion and exclusion.
- Debates about bathroom access often reveal underlying tensions about who belongs in public life.
Separate Spheres and Bathrooms
- Early privies were not sex-segregated, but indoor restrooms emerged with the rise of separate spheres ideology.
- This ideology confined women to the domestic sphere, while men occupied public spaces.
