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Two queueing theorists of Ghent University investigated why queues at restrooms are invariably longer for ladies than for men. Time and time again. What are the main causes for this disparity? And how can it be overcome? Moving to unisex toilets, it appears from this study, may reduce waiting times for women from over 6 minutes to less than a minute and a half. Already a symbol for transgender equality, unisex toilets can hence boast excellent figures when it comes to reducing waiting times. Or, how transgender-friendliness may help in battling female-unfriendly toilet culture.
It turns out there are three main causes for the difference in waiting time between men and women. A first factor explaining why women wait longer is that the net number of toilets for women is smaller than that for men. This is because the total surface area is often divided equally while a toilet cabin inevitably takes up more space than a urinal. Overall, an average toilet area can accommodate 20 to 30 percent more toilets for men (urinals + cabins) than for women.
A second reason is that according to scientific studies women spend one and a half up to two times as long on the toilet. The reasons are mostly practical. In contrast to a urinal, a door must be opened and closed twice, a toilet seat needs cleaning, and more and more difficult clothes have to be taken off and on. This results in an average time spent at the toilet of 1 minute for men and 1 minute and 30 seconds for women.
A third factor is the overall activity at the restroom. As long as it's not too busy, the overall effect of ladies having a smaller number of toilets and spending more time on those toilets does not lead to long queues. However when for example everybody heads home, more women arrive at the toilets than the system can handle. This condition amplifies the above effects and results in outrageous waiting times for women.
Source: https://phys.org/news/2017-07-lengths-restroom.html
(Score: 3, Informative) by Snotnose on Tuesday July 18 2017, @03:08AM (3 children)
I don't hold my pee in my urethra, I hold it in my bladder. I'm more inclined to trust her "damned kids crushed my bladder" than your "my urethra is too short".
My ducks are not in a row. I don't know where some of them are, and I'm pretty sure one of them is a turkey.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday July 18 2017, @03:58AM (2 children)
That's your choice. If you wanted to, you could close off the end of your penis, then empty some of the urine from your bladder into your penis while you hold the end closed. Women can't do that.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday July 18 2017, @08:52AM (1 child)
Sounds painful.
Like those few drops are going to make any difference.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday July 19 2017, @01:37AM
That doesn't work. Once the bladder decides it's time to whizz, the pressure needed to clamp down will hurt more than any embarrassment is worth.