Is there a bathroom in the house?

Even apart from job opportunities, this is not an inconsequential nor a trivial concern. In every culture, health and comfort are essential requirements, and culture can dictate more time for women than men spent in 'going to the loo'. Physiology can make a difference, too. Ageing and incontinence often go hand in hand, and as women live longer, the problem is likely to be increased amongst the female population. As well, other stages of the lifecycle can influence the matter. Urinary tract infections contribute, along with menstruation and pregnancy, whilst women are more likely to take responsibility for changing babies and toddlers' nappies, as well as taking older children to the lavatory.

The need to expel waste is not the only imperative. Sadly, in too many unfortunate instances, restaurants and other venues seek to isolate breastfeeding women, as if feeding a baby and 'going' are somehow related. In a notorious Melbourne incident, a Casino security guard ordered a breastfeeding woman to remove from a café to the lavatory. When she objected, the then Premier, Jeff Kennett, endorsed the security guard's action. In response, women held a 'breastfeed-in' on the steps of Spring Street's Parliament House. Journalist Catherine Deveny wrote a column about her own experience: in devoting a day to the task, she found no objections, nor objectors, when she breastfed her youngster whilst tram-travelling, parkbench-sitting and even trying out the Myer cafeteria in Little Lonsdale Street.

Yet change is afoot. At Westminster the situation has improved beyond measure – at least in comparison with the past. Now, there are several additional 'lady members' rooms' – a euphemism for loos and showers. Elsewhere, for outdoor events and onsite construction, portable and freestanding ablution blocks are now designed to suit any specifications. The UK firm Port Container Services proclaims:

'Port Container Services design and construct ablution blocks and deliver directly to your site. We have a range of designs available, though if you have a particular layout in mind we can create an ablution block or portable bathroom to your specifications. Our ablution blocks can be fitted with toilets, urinals, wash basins, benches, showers, fans and mirrors and come in a range of sizes. Our portable toilet blocks are useful at construction sites, holiday parks and music festivals …'

In the United States, state and local legislatures have recognised 'the washroom' as vital. Some 21 out of the 50 US states, together with New York, Chicago and several other major cities, have passed 'potty parity laws'. 'Potty parity' confirms that equality in lavatories for women and men is not a question of equal cubicle numbers. Under the 2005 New York City ordinance, equality requires a ratio of two women's cubicles for every cubicle provided for men. This conforms to international building standards which advocate the 2:1 ratio, although under some other 'potty parity' jurisdictions, 'equality' is not so generous, requiring only a 3:2 cubicle construction. Even there, however, this is stated as a minimum.

Returning, now, to Regent Street, imagine George Bernard Shaw's response. Along with police, he would not be advocating the busdriver's arrest. He'd surely be taking once more to his pen, and no doubt to the streets, renewing his call for more public conveniences labeled 'Women'. In the words of the Americans, let our voices rise too - in a plea for more 'potty parity'. Australian women – like the women of Chicago and New York – deserve it.