Collective Manhood Exposed

Admittedly, a conversation regarding the male urinal is not one that is discussed often. It is often said that men pee in silence. Ask most men and they will probably declare that they want to get in and out of the restroom as quickly as possible without any form of communication. Urinal etiquette is subtle and undefined, but also extremely important. It is not uncommon to see groups of women heading to the restroom together, perhaps using it as an opportunity to have girls chat. It is a rarity to see groups of men heading to the restroom together. Men are wired differently and the fear of being labeled is always present. The urinal usage can be viewed as a receptacle for hypermasculinity; for men parading their endowed phalluses. On the other hand it can also be viewed as a fear-provoking experience for mere mortals. It would be disingenuous not to mention that some men target urinals for autoeroticism practices. Unsurprisingly, masturbation remains a tabooed behaviour and is subjected to ridicle. We must be mindful that we exist and operate in a culturally restricted space which provides some sort of boundary regarding what is culturally acceptable. With men it is different, we tend to just do our business, wash our hands (hopefully); and leave promptly. As men we have all had the same experience of being in the public space with an urgent need to urinate. Most of us practice the last thing to do rule before leaving home or the office which is to use the bathroom. Most men first experience of using the urinal begins at school. Given the large male student population and limited space for restrooms it’s quite practical for educational institutions or public spaces to have urinals. The value of privacy is oftentimes completely undermined by using the urinal. One has to be bold and have self confidence in using the urinal especially during the adolescent years when some males developed at a faster pace than others. There are unspoken codes regarding the use of the urinal. Overtimes men and boys learn these rules and they are then passed down to the next generation. Of course there are always those among us who do not follow rules and will do as they please. The History of the Male Urinal The urinal was first patented in the United States immediately following the Civil War, when Andrew Rankin introduced an upright flushing apparatus in 1866. It is believed that a woman actually invented the first urinal during the civil war," says Klaus Reichardt, CEO and founder of Waterless Co, Inc.; in the 1800's women could not register a patent. The U.S. Industrial Revolution made urinals renowned. The hiring of men meant large areas of the factory floor had to be designated for restrooms. Therefore by installing urinals, less restroom space was necessary. The women's suffrage movement and the rise of feminism played a role in the growing popularity of urinals. Many men believed standing up symbolically elevated them above women seeking equal rights so they preferred using urinals. Societal and Cultural Shifts The pace of change in urinal function and design has only increased in the last few decades with the manufacturers of this device responding to a variety of cultural shifts and societal pressures. It has become more commonplace to see more children accompanying their parents to various sites of public consumption such as museums, barbershops, restaurants, theaters, which have led to the manufacturing of smaller urinals for children. Subsequently, larger than normal urinals were created for taller men which speaks to the evolution of the culture and how this impacts developmental issues. In very large public restrooms in airports and other areas with high volumes of daily use, it is not unusual to see urinals set at three different heights. Airports have also been at the cutting edge of no-touch technology when it comes to the public restroom, not just with urinals but also traditional sit-down toilets, in addition to soap, water, and paper towel dispensers. The no-touch urinal, which utilizes an infrared motion proximity sensor to activate the flushing mechanism, has been welcomed especially during the COVID-19 pandemic where the coronavirus is believed to live on surfaces for hours at a time. Prior to the COVID 19 pandemic the viral outbreaks such as Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) have led the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and other health organizations to recommend that urinals and other restroom devices should operate automatically and without human touch. Unspoken Rules Always Leave a Gap. It is suggested that if there are three urinals and only one is being used, use the one at the other end. It is recommended, not sure by whom that you leave the middle one empty. This is referred to as the “urinal gap” however, how many of us adhere to this unspoken rule? In instances where the restroom is busy clearly this is not practical or followed. Obviously the urinal gap does not apply in a situation where there are only two urinals? There goes that rule! Meandering Eyes. As men we have all had that awkward situation where the next guy at the urinal is not focusing on what’s in front of him. Perhaps it’s innate within us to try and measure up to another and the urinal provides an opportunity? However, the universal accepted etiquette is that when at the urinal, keep your eyes straight ahead, or look down, like you are concentrating on something, whatever that might be. It must be noted that to stare at another male while at the urinal can send a wrong message; a message of propositioning that individual. This recommendation applies to all sexual orientations. However, there are going to always be rule breakers who do not subscribe to any universally accepted etiquette and this can be problematic. Conversing at the Urinal. Most of us have broken this urinal etiquette. In most parts of the world it is not considered appropriate to talk to a stranger while using the urinal. However, if it is a friend or a colleague, then it is not only proper to converse, but is considered rude if you do not. However, try and keep the conversation short and light. Men are at their most vulnerable with an exposed manhood as is the situation while responding to a physiological need. This lack of privacy in a public space can be threatening for some men. The artistry which now accompanies the manufacturing of urinals has made this device more aesthetical pleasing and liberating to the male user. In many large European cities the use of the male urinal has been woven in the fabric of the society. In many ways, the urinal has served as a cultural gauge reflecting more than just societal and cultural trends, fears, desires, attitudes and values peculiar to time and place. Wayne Campbell is an educator and social commentator with an interest in development policies as they affect culture and or gender issues. waykam@yahoo.com @WayneCamo © #urinal #restroom #manhood #culture #sexualorientation #masturbation