Imagine, that as you read this article, you slip into an alternate universe – one where you are on the fringes of gender. For this thought experiment, let’s assume you identify as male. In this world, there are no toilets for men.
There is no discrimination against you. You’re welcome to study, work, go to the gym, movies, restaurants, concerts, take public transport… you just can’t go to the toilet. Can you imagine what your quality of life would be?
Imagine going to school, college or the office knowing you won’t be able to go to the toilet till you’re safely home. How much water would you drink? How much food would you eat? Would you be able to enjoy an evening out with your friends? Enjoy a large soft drink with your popcorn at the movies? Take road trips? Not really, right? But at least you’ll be able to work and study. You can design your schedule so that you never have to go to the toilet at school/college/office.
Good thinking. What happens if you have a tummy upset though? You’d have to go. So you risk going to the toilet, hoping that you’ll quietly get in and out without anyone noticing. Unfortunately, someone does notice, and complains to security. The security guards enter the toilet, and escort you out… to where all your colleagues are waiting to see what the fuss was about.
Here’s the kicker – this isn’t an alternate reality, but one that people who identify as transgender, non-binary or intersex face every day. It adds up. A study conducted in the United States revealed that 59% of transgender or gender-diverse participants avoided using public toilets due to fear of confrontations. According to another study, among the transgender and/or nonbinary youth who experienced bathroom discrimination, 85% reported depressive mood and 60% seriously considered suicide. These experiences are echoed by transgender and non-binary people everywhere, including India.
And that’s not all. There are physical repercussions too. Many transgender and/or non-binary people prefer to ‘hold it’ than subject themselves to the indignity of going to a toilet where they aren’t welcome. As we know, this can lead to the development of urinary tract infections, kidney problems, and other related health issues. Moreover, many of them also resort to restricting their food and water intake. Combined with our weather, this often leads to dehydration.
Creating Safe, Inclusive Spaces
On the other hand, creating inclusive toilet facilities can dramatically improve the well-being of these individuals. By merely knowing that they have access to a safe space, free from judgement, transgender and non-binary people can experience a reduction in daily stress and anxiety levels. This, in turn, can lead to an overall improvement in mental health. Additionally, having access to inclusive and safe toilets means that they don’t have to restrict their food and water intake, which encourages better hydration and nutrition, positively impacting their physical health.
There are 4.88 lakh transgender individuals in India, of which 55,000 are children. Each of these people has much to contribute to our nation, to their families and to themselves. But they can’t do so when we create barriers to them meeting their most basic needs. When the LGBTQ+ community has access to gender-inclusive toilets, it enables them to participate more actively in the workforce.
To quote PM Narendra Modi, our diversity is one of our greatest strengths. However, our progressiveness has to translate into real world actions. At a policy level, India has already made great strides. The Supreme Court of India officially acknowledged Hijras as a ‘third gender’ in 2014, and repealed Article 377, decriminalising homosexuality in 2018.
In terms of creating access to gender neutral toilets, the progress is slow, but promising. Recently, The Supreme Court also set up nine gender neutral toilets within the court premises. In Delhi, the government has taken a significant step towards inclusivity by mandating that all its departments, offices, district authorities, municipal corporations, state-run companies, and the Delhi Police have separate and exclusive washrooms for transgender persons.
The mantle now needs to be taken up by everyone else. After all, we all have to go to the toilet.
Gender Neutral Toilets Are For Everyone
While this isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution, gender neutral toilets are generally considered the most cost effective, safe and inclusive solution. These facilities are not designated as male or female and can be used by anyone regardless of gender. No one gets stopped from using these, because it doesn’t matter how you identify – these are spaces that welcome us all.
Contrary to the misconception that gender-neutral toilets lack privacy, they are in fact, designed for it through the use of individual stalls. For women, these spaces can also mean more availability of toilets – as any woman who has stood in line to go to an overcrowded bathroom in a stadium can attest, the ratio of toilets for men and women is greatly skewed. By embracing gender neutral bathrooms, we can all get to the toilet sooner. For parents too, accompanying their children to the toilet becomes much easier – ask any dad who has had to accompany his daughter, and they’ll tell you what an awkward experience it is when they enter toilets reserved for men or women. Promoting inclusive toilet facilities isn’t just good for this small community, but for society at large.
Harpic, a brand renowned for its commitment to cleanliness, has embraced this call for change. With open hearts and a deep understanding, Harpic has taken remarkable strides to ensure that its products cater to the rich tapestry of society, which includes the LGBTQ+ community.
Harpic, in collaboration with News18 has also created Mission Swachhta aur Paani, a movement that recognizes the profound significance of toilets, viewing them not merely as functional spaces but as beacons of safety and acceptance for the marginalised. This exceptional mission is built upon the firm belief that clean and inclusive toilets are vital for fostering a society that embraces and empowers us all, unconditionally.
With unwavering dedication, Harpic and News18 actively include and advocate for the LGBTQ+ community, propelling the message that every individual deserves access to safe and accepting spaces, where their dignity is upheld, and their presence is celebrated. It is also empowering you, the reader, to have the right conversations and champion the needs of your transgender brethren. Mission Swachhta aur Paani serves as a repository of information for all things associated with toilets and sanitation.
Go have the conversation at work, at your favourite restaurant, with your local MLA, or champion the cause online. The transgender community is fighting, and it is incumbent on the rest of us to join them in creating a safer, more equitable, more just society, one inclusive toilet at a time.
To know more about how you can play a part in this national conversation, join us here to bring about a more Swasth and Swachh Bharat for us all.