"RESTROOMS AND GENDER
In 1887, Massachusetts became the first state to mandate businesses provide female employees with a "sufficient number" of separate restroom facilities. The availability of gendered restrooms began as a movement for women to relive themselves safely and comfortably in the public sphere.
More than a century later our understanding of gender has progressed, but in many places restrooms have not changed. Divided along the historical man/woman binary (with sinage reflecting traditional fashion silhouettesof pants and skirts), such spaces fail to accommodate people who may not identify with that binary, including, transgender, nonbinary, and gende non-conforming individual. In addition, restrooms do not always accommodate individuals with disabilities. At the MFA, we are working toward restroom accessibility for people of all gender and abilities."
Sign at the fine arts museum in boston.
