bathroom psychology?

Question

As a woman I know that me and other women have a certain code when using public bathrooms, the rules are as follows:

When we go to take a dump in a public restroom we will go into the stall and wait everyone out to do it alone but every now and then there is another person there with the same mission...to wait everyone out to take their dump alone. So, when this happens, when two people are both there for a long amount of time with no activity...we wait just to see who will break the ice first. I am usually the one to do it and as soon as that first plop comes out then the other woman waiting will start plopping and then finally we are done.

Now that we are done with our business we both wait and wait and wait to see who will leave the stall first. It seems as though it is an unspoken rule that we must not see each other. If you are not the one to leave the stall first then you must wait for your fellow "dumper" to be completely done and out of the bathroom, then it is ok to leave

Now I know that most men in the bathroom have little to no shame and often encourage each other like "YOU can DO IT man!!!!" as their fellow man is dumping or "NICE ONE!" when they hear a fart.

what are the psychological reasons behind men and women's very different bathroom etiquette?

Answer 1

Men behave differently because they are raised to believe that taking a dump in the public restroom is like dying and when you gotta go you gotta go.

Also you never hear about this happening in ladies restrooms do you ?

Answer 2

Being a man, I follow very much the same rules as you describe, and I have yet to hear any of the encouragement nonsense that men are supposed to give each other. Many men go a long way toward avoiding to stand in stalls next to each other because the proximity of another man prevents one from urinating. So it seems that men are not so different from women after all. Fortunately this statement applies only to public restrooms.

Answer 3

This is funny cos its so Britishly taboo to talk about going to the toilet as well... yet curiously interesting at the same time! As a girlie I would say I also would go into the stall that gives the largest amount of space between other closed stall doors, but I have grown brave and shameless and just do what I gotta do, leave when I'm done, and I dont look at anyone else lol I HATE it when the toilets are busy and there is a loooong queue - such pressure! lol My hubby here says he has never ever heard fellow menfolk say such things as you have heard, in all the years he has had to use public toilets. Apparently making conversation while paying a visit for whatever could be misunderstood for gay interest so menfolk generally dont speak.

Answer 4

That's a good question. But, I don't see anyone jumping on it to do research! My guess as to why women might be more reserved with regard to evacuating their bowels in a public restroom is that societal norms prescribe that women are to be more reserved in that .. capacity.

Some men do the same I suspect, while others exhibit a bravado. I remember one guy sitting in a stall and he provided colorful commentary. "Woooo.. this sh1t is something toxic!" and suggested he should provide a courtesy flush.

Answer 5

Because males, regardless of age, think toilet humor is always funny. Men do have bathroom rules, mostly for the urinal, ie always use the one that allows the most space between people. And of course the latest bathroom code- tap tap :).

Answer 6

It reminds me of the time i got on an elevator with a woman, who by the way sold AVON. She had leaked a good one out before i got on board, and then sprayed some kind of pine fragrance. She noticed my look and asked if i liked the new air freshener she had just sprayed. I told her it smelled like someone had just crapped a pine tree!!!!

Answer 7

Hey its a private thing!

Stop looking what is under my pants, will ya its just way too much for them to handle right now.

Thank God there is at least running water, not to mention hot or cold. The question remains, who will fix all that since there is so many that don't understand it?

Answer 8

I have often wondered what women talk about in the absence of men.

Answer 9

Women are socialized to more modesty than men.

Answer 10

It is extraordinary what preoccupies some people!