Mana the Magnificent and BRI fan Ken Lerner send us to The Society Pages, where we get a look at how male and female are symbolized on public restroom doors around the world:

As such, washroom signs are very telling of the way societies construct gender. They identify the male as the universal and the female as the variation.

An example we all recognize:

The most common type of washroom sign, pictured at the top of this post, is another example. Typically, these signs depict men as people, and women as people in skirts.

Or men as naked and women as dressed?

Anyway, do go give it a look. It’s a thought-provoking post, and there are a bunch of examples, many funny and some just strange. One more:

Our local brewery’s restroom doors say “Ales” and “Lagers.” Uncle John always goes outside because he can’t figure out which one’s for him.

P.S. Got any stories or photos of how restrooms are labeled in your town? Please let us know in the comments.