You’re walking through a city center, the sun is setting, and that familiar, nagging pressure in your bladder starts to scream. You look around. Every cafe has a "Customers Only" sign. The one public restroom you found is padlocked behind a "Closed for Maintenance" sign. For men, the solution—while technically illegal—is often as simple as finding a dark alley or a discreet tree. But for anyone else, female peeing in public isn't just a logistical nightmare; it’s a high-stakes gamble involving biology, law, and a massive lack of urban infrastructure.
It's a mess. Honestly, it's more than a mess—it's a public health crisis that we’ve collectively decided to ignore because it feels "gross" to talk about.
When we talk about the lack of facilities, we aren't just complaining about convenience. We are talking about "urinary segregation." This is a term used by urban historians like Clara Greed to describe how city design has historically excluded women by failing to provide for their physiological needs. If you can’t find a place to go, you can’t stay out in public. It's a leash.
The Biology Gap: Why It’s Not the Same
Let’s get the science out of the way. Men can stand. They have a biological "extension" that allows for precision and minimal contact with the environment. For women, the act of female peeing in public usually requires squatting, which exposes more skin and requires much more "clearance" from the ground to avoid splashback.
Then there’s the anatomy. Women generally have smaller bladders than men relative to body size, and the proximity of the bladder to the uterus means that during menstruation or pregnancy, that capacity shrinks even further. It’s not a "weakness." It’s geometry.
According to the American Urological Association, nearly 1 in 3 women suffer from some form of urinary incontinence or overactive bladder. When you add in the reality of the "pee gap"—where women take, on average, 90 seconds to use a restroom compared to a man's 30 seconds—the math for public spaces just doesn't add up. We have fewer toilets and a higher demand. That is a recipe for disaster.
The Legal Trap and the "She-Pee" Solution
Most people assume that if you're caught, you just get a ticket for "public urination." That’s the dream scenario. In many jurisdictions, the legal fallout is way more intense. Depending on the local laws and the specific officer's mood, being caught mid-squat can lead to charges of "indecent exposure." In some extreme cases in the United States, this can lead to being placed on a sex offender registry.
It’s terrifying.
Because of this, a whole industry of "Female Urination Devices" (FUDs) has exploded. You’ve probably seen them—the Shewee, the GoGirl, the pStyle. These are plastic or silicone funnels designed to let women pee standing up. They were originally marketed to hikers and campers. Now? They’re being sold to city dwellers who are tired of hovering over a disgusting port-a-potty at a music festival or, worse, having to find a bush in a park because the city council decided public toilets were too expensive to clean.
The Rise of the "Pee Club" and Private Access
In London, some activists have started mapping out "accessible" private toilets. Since the 2010s, public toilet numbers in the UK have plummeted by nearly 40%. This has forced people to rely on the "Community Toilet Scheme," where local businesses get a small subsidy to let non-customers use their facilities.
It sounds great on paper. In reality? It’s awkward.
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If you don't look like a "paying customer," you're often turned away. This disproportionately hits the homeless, the elderly, and those in lower-income brackets. If you can't afford a £5 latte, you can't use the bathroom. It’s a pay-to-pee world.
Why Designers Keep Getting It Wrong
Urban planners are often—shocker—men. They design spaces based on their own lived experiences. If a designer never has to worry about where to change a tampon or how to squat without getting urine on their shoes, they won't prioritize those features in a park layout.
We see this in "hostile architecture." Cities install slanted benches so people can't sleep on them, and they remove public restrooms to prevent drug use or "loitering." But you can't "design out" a biological function. People still have to go. When you remove the toilets, you don't stop people from peeing; you just force them to do it in the street, which is worse for everyone.
Realities of Outdoor Squatting
Let's be real for a second. If you’ve ever been caught out, you know the "theatre" of it. The lookout. The jacket-around-the-waist move. The frantic search for a surface that isn't concrete so you don't get "splashback."
There is a specific technique to female peeing in public that involves a deep squat and holding onto a stationary object—like a car door or a sturdy tree—to maintain balance. It’s a physical feat. It’s also incredibly stressful. The fear of being "seen" creates a cortisol spike that can actually make it harder for the bladder muscles to relax, leading to incomplete emptying and, eventually, UTIs.
Looking at the Global South
In many parts of the world, this isn't just a "night out" problem; it's a daily survival issue. Research from WaterAid highlights that in many urban slums, women wait until after dark to go outside to relieve themselves to maintain some shred of privacy. This puts them at an enormous risk of physical and sexual assault.
The "loo" is a feminist issue. Period.
What is the "Loo Lady" and Why Do We Miss Her?
Older readers might remember when public restrooms had attendants. These were often women who kept the place clean and provided a sense of safety. As cities cut budgets, these roles were the first to go. Now, we have automated "street toilets" that are often broken, smell like a chemical factory, and have timers that might leave the door swinging open while you're still mid-wipe.
Actionable Steps for Change and Survival
So, what do we actually do about this? We can’t just wait for the government to suddenly care about our bladders.
1. Use the Tech
Download apps like Flush, Refuge Restrooms, or Where is Public Toilet. These are community-driven maps that show you exactly where you can go. Refuge Restrooms is particularly good because it focuses on gender-neutral and safe spaces.
2. The Kit
If you know you’re going to be in a "toilet desert," carry a kit. A small silicone FUD (like the pStyle) can be a lifesaver. Keep a pack of "Kula Cloths"—reusable, antimicrobial pee cloths—so you aren't leaving toilet paper in the environment or carrying around soggy tissues.
3. Political Pressure
Demand "Potty Parity" laws. Some states and cities have already started passing legislation requiring new public buildings to have a 2:1 ratio of female-to-male toilets. This accounts for the extra time women need. Support organizations like the American Restroom Association or the PHLUSH (Public Hygiene Lets Us Stay Human) group.
4. The "Safety" Squat
If you find yourself in an emergency, remember: soft ground (grass/dirt) is your friend for minimizing splash. Face away from the wind. Always carry a spare Ziploc bag for any paper you use. Leave no trace.
5. Business "Hacking"
Most big-box retailers (Target, Lowe's, Home Depot) have restrooms located at the back of the store, and they rarely check if you're a customer. Hotel lobbies are also notoriously easy to navigate; walk in like you belong there, head for the mezzanine or the back of the lobby, and you’ll usually find a clean, quiet facility.
The reality is that female peeing in public shouldn't be a clandestine act of rebellion. It’s a basic function. Until our cities are designed for the bodies that actually live in them, we have to keep talking about the "unspeakable." Stop apologizing for having a bladder. Start demanding a place to empty it.
Final Practical Insight
If you're planning a trip to a new city, check the "walkability" score, but also check the "public toilet density." Cities like Singapore and Tokyo have mastered this. Cities like New York and London are currently failing. Your best bet is always a library or a museum—they are public, generally free, and usually well-maintained. Don't wait until it's an emergency; map your "out" before you need it.