History books are overflowing with famous icons, grand speeches, mighty battles, scientific breakthroughs, and other momentous factors credited with shaping the direction of human civilization. What if we told you there’s a glaring toilet-shaped hole in these accounts?
You heard that right! The humble porcelain throne has been a silent mover, influencing some of the most important events in society. Here, we’ll flush out the fascinating role toilets have played in changing the flow of history.
The Great Stink of London
In the 1800s, the River Thames was London’s natural sewage system. Without reliable piping or channels, the capital of the British Empire was literally clogged. The olfactory nightmare was so pungent it became known as “The Great Stink.” Parliament tapped Joseph Bazalgette to design one of the world’s largest and most sophisticated sewage systems. We – the benefactors of modern plumbing – have this stinky event to thank for the health, convenience, and simplicity we enjoy daily.
The Black Plague
The history of the toilet is long, winding, and – at one point – a matter of life and death. The Black Plague tore across medieval Europe, wiping out millions of people in the process. Although there were several vectors for spreading the disease, poor bathroom sanitation is partially to blame. It took a long time for germ theory to take hold, but this catastrophic epidemic helped raise awareness for public hygiene and proper waste management. Over time, this awareness paved the way for the development of public health systems.
The Women’s Rights Movement
Here’s a factoid your history book never shared: Toilet access had a critical role in the women’s rights movement. Bathroom accessibility was a focal point of the feminist cause due to what’s been dubbed the “urinary leash.” As the BBC explains, this refers to “the restriction on many women’s movements…as a result of a lack of sanitary facilities.”
Given the frightening lack of public restrooms in many cities, over half the population could only go as far as their bladders would allow. The push for restroom access was a core part of the larger cause of equal representation. Today, the presence of adequate restroom facilities is a basic expectation, thanks in part to these early battles for bathroom equality.
Civil Rights Actions
Restrooms became a flashpoint of the civil rights movement as racial inequality seeped deeper and deeper into daily life. Segregated bathrooms synthesized the inhumanity, discrimination, and oppression of the apartheid system. Activists fought fearlessly and tirelessly to ensure equal access to these public spaces for all races.
The struggle for equal restroom access was a crucial step toward dismantling systemic racism and promoting equality. In the end, the landmark Civil Rights Act of 1964 ensured “the full and equal enjoyment of the goods, services, facilities, privileges, advantages, and accommodations of any place of public accommodation”, enshrining bathroom access for everyone.
The COVID-19 Pandemic
More recently, the restroom had a front-row seat to the panic caused by the pandemic. Toilet paper shortages were reported in countries across the world as people rushed to secure these sanitary necessities. Many public restrooms struggled to accommodate users while achieving advised health practices such as six-foot distancing. At this time, the Portland Loo’s single-occupant design and natural ventilation became emblematic of how restrooms could fight back against the pandemic.
The restroom has been party to (and even spearheaded) some of the most impactful social, health, and cultural changes in history. Let’s not forget that the human story is still being written. Today, the Portland Loo is on the frontlines by transforming what people and cities can expect from a public toilet. The Loo is fighting crime, gender inequality, homelessness, and the lack of public restrooms all at the same time!
