Is it feminist for men to put the toilet seat down?

Question

I used to have this arguement all the time with a male roommate. He said that it was feminist to leave the seat up, because putting it down implied that women were too weak and delicate to put it down themselves. However, I argued that leaving the seat up was sexist because it fell under the category of making the women clean up after the men.

Please answer as to whether or not you think it is FEMINIST- not whether you think it is right or wrong, good/bad manners, etc.

Oh, by the way, I no longer live with the man in the question; and I am now married to someone else. Thankfully, my hubby puts the toilet seat down without making it into a debate. I'm just asking for the purpose of debate.

Oh, and we didn't have dogs or cats, so we didn't have to put the lid down for them.

Answer 1

Its not feminist...he is just making excuses (lame ones at that).

Answer 2

As far as I can tell, this issue has nothing to do with feminism. Why not leave both the seat and the lid down if you can't agree? The only time *that* might be a problem is if someone forgets and is in a hurry.

In my house, it's just common courtesy to leave the seat down. There are more women than men in the house right now, and everyone sits to defecate, so it's a "majority rule" thing. If I were in a house with more men than women (a shared rental, for example), having the seat up more often than down would take some getting used to, but I wouldn't complain.

But, again, that's not a feminist issue for me. The only way it could *be* a feminist issue is if one or the other of you insisted it had to be one way *all the time* because it's easier for (insert sex and/or gender here) and (insert sex and/or gender here)'s opinions are the only ones that matter, and everyone in your professional and social life believed the same. Other than that, it's a pet peeve that *might* be informed by social politics, but not a sociopolitical issue in and of itself.

Answer 3

I just think the toilet is ugly with the lid up. Of course, I was raised as the only male in a household of women, so it is what I'm used to. *shrug* However, I do know that the flush sends a cloud of bacteria laden vapor straight up. Yum. Microscopic poopie particles. And to think my toothbrush is just a few feet away.

These days, I put it down to keep kitty from embarrassing herself. She isn't nearly as slick as she thinks she is, and would look very funny dyed blue.

All that aside, this is not a feminist issue, this is a petty household control issue. Who gets to tell who what to do in the bathroom. Don't give me any crap about how men sometimes sit too, so it's easier, more efficient, or whatever BS rationale you want to use. Lift the freakin thing every time, and put it down before you flush. Anything else is spiteful and petty. And not just the seat, the freakin lid. Everybody. Every time. Who cares how icky it is, aren't you going straight to the sink to wash your hands? Dirty girl.

Answer 4

Everybody should put the toilet seat down along with the lid. The toilet should be closed up after being used. It's just good manners.

Answer 5

I suppose this proves that ANYTHING can be turned into a feminist discussion...is nothing sacred?

I lived in a house full of boys...I never fell into the toilet if one of them didn't put the seat down. I would much prefer knowing they had it up, so then I KNEW that they hadn't peed on the seat and forgot to wipe it clean.

Is this really what the discussion of the genders has turned into? The toilet seat? Man, what a reach!

Answer 6

I think he is right. Guys cannot win. If they offer to open the car door, they are told " I can take care of myself' by a woman and if they do not offer they are rude. With regard to the toilet seat I thiink your roommate is on to something. Why shouldnt the toilet be left closed with the lid on all the time. that way no one is the lesser. I mean who ever decided that the seat should be down all the time? a woman.

Answer 7

It is a problem due to the difference in male /female toilet use men usually stand more to urinate while a woman sits to do every thing.
It is a lazy thing and most guys leave it up to save the next time and don`t worry about the next user. It is good manners to return a shared toilet to a normal condition after use.
It is not really a sexist thing it is just that guys are practical and see not use in putting seat down and then next time lift up /put down etc as if you don`t need to sit down why put it down until you need to
1 revenge you could try is put it down while he is peeing and he will have to clean it up.

Answer 8

Each person should be responsible enough to put the seat in the position that is appropriate for their use. I don't understand why women want the seat put back down so intently. Why would anyone sit anywhere, particularly with their bare ***, without looking first to make sure it was safe?

Answer 9

Both sexes need to put both the seat and the seat cover down so that the dog doesn't drink out of the toilet.

Answer 10

What? Nobody here has enough class to put both the seat AND the lid down?

All these female rationalizations for not having to touch the "icky" seat should embarrass you women. And men shouldn't be so lazy either.

Dear Lord, what slobs - the whole lot of ya

Answer 11

Oh for crying out loud!!
If you need the bloody seat up, then PUT IT UP! If you need the damned seat down THEN PUT IT DOWN!!
You are both full grown adults and are both quite capable of lifting up or placing down a simple toilet seat!!
As for the boys mess? Have you ever really looked at the underside of the spot where the boys have to lift the seat? It is full of urine spray!
That comes from people who sit on the toilet to pee.