re these toilet signs sexist? These two toilet signs,doors, are going viral for their crime against gender equality - but no one is quite sure who they discriminate against

Keiichi81 · 2015-10-23T12:52:35+00:00

I just think it should be taken as a very light hearted joke. I hope the feminists do not stage a demonstration against it!

Leinadro · 2015-10-23T13:07:57+00:00

Simple if anyone thought it was sexist towards men they would be told sexism against men doesnt exist.

Korvar · 2015-10-23T13:15:39+00:00

The survey at the end is the best bit.

2015-10-23T12:57:14+00:00

I think it's funny, and pretty clever.

Stephen_Morgan · 2015-10-23T13:11:43+00:00

Somebody should complain to the Guardian about perpetuating stereotypes...

Powder Room is a rare film all about women, and all the more universal for it

That, however, is not the only respect in which Powder Room is notable, gender-wise. It's being described as the British Bridesmaids, since it's a comedy about and for women. But, unlike Bridesmaids, it has no male lead characters – just a couple of tiny walk-on parts. This is not surprising, bearing in mind that nearly all of the action is set in the ladies loo of a nightclub. Yet, at the same time, it's surprising, if not unique. If a feature film with a higher female-to-male on-camera ratio has ever been made, then I'd like to know what it is.

Easy question to answer: The Women (1939), with 100% women - no toilets (I don't know if pre 1960's Hollywood films even showed WC's - all these characters going to wash their hands) but certainly powder rooms, nail salons, and other venues for female grooming and gossip.

Does it matter, mere critical mass of female presence, regardless of whether the film is any good or not? It most certainly does. A film that barely features a woman at all – Reservoir Dogs, say – isn't remarkable for that fact. One doesn't even notice. But a film that's all about women, well, that's both a marker of how far we have come in the last 50 years or so, and also marker of how very far we have yet to go.

As it happens, Powder Room, by first-time director MJ Delaney, is a good and interesting film, with some caveats. It's a low-budget film, so its necessarily limited. It's based on a play, When Women Wee, by Rachel Hirons...

sinni800 · 2015-10-23T15:41:19+00:00

There's no "It's a joke, move on" poll vote... Welp

2015-10-23T18:35:35+00:00

The joke is men talk less than women. Lighten up

-er · 2015-10-23T16:13:21+00:00

There is a difference between being sexist and perpetuating a stereotype. How is preference or hatred shown for any group here? In any case, I think there have been studies that show men talk less than women on average.

McFeely_Smackup · 2015-10-24T01:25:29+00:00

My only question is why is there even one "blah" in the men's room?

There's no talking in the men's room!

chocoboat · 2015-10-23T16:56:12+00:00

So it's a gender neutral bathroom, where for some reason they want talkative men and women to go to the right (I guess for pleasant inter-stall conversation?) and people who do their business quietly to go to the left.

I'd prefer the standard men's and women's restroom, but this store can do whatever they want I guess.

2015-10-23T17:24:39+00:00

It could also be saying "men talk less than women" instead of "women talk more than men". Cool.

2015-10-23T19:05:40+00:00

Proof that a sense of humor is entirely borne of environment.

25 years ago, BOTH my parents would have thought that was hilarious, their corny sense of humor notwithstanding.

qemist · 2015-10-23T23:19:38+00:00

The purpose of gendered toilet signs is to discriminate on the basis of sex, so they are inherently sexist. Not that there is anything wrong with that.

rg57 · 2015-10-24T04:18:11+00:00

I've been in some very chatty men's rooms.

Perhaps they should remove the male/female signs altogether, and just let those of us (any gender) who want some quiet poo time to use BLA, and everyone else (any gender) can use BLABLABLA...?

BigAbbott · 2015-10-24T06:36:14+00:00

Commenting on a Reddit thread about a blog post about comments on a Reddit thread.

Bedtime.

unpicked-username · 2015-10-24T08:59:15+00:00

Am i the only one who thinks its weird when a formal news site says internet names like 'napoleonbootyhunter'?

Lethn · 2015-10-23T12:50:43+00:00

Is it wrong I laughed? :D fyi, on the male door the letters should be "fapfapfapfapfapfapfapfap" :D

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