Today marks World Toilet Day! And as odd as “we,” people living in the developed world, might find the need to mark a day as such, facts are not everyone is blessed with certain luxuries. Luxuries we take for granted. Sanitation being just one of many. But what’s worse is, and I have experience with this particular aspect, its affect on women.
The Current today, in part 3, Potty Parity, they dealt with this issue in quite a few interesting ways. Breaking it down — while citing some very compelling facts — in some interesting ways. One of which, as I said, I have experience with. I pee sitting down, and have to perform a certain process to take care of business, and have absolutely no choice but to.
I know, or could guess closer than any other member of my gender (a male) who isn’t in a similar situation as me, what is at stake for women. And most importantly what having access to washroom facilities truly means to a person who needs to go. Now I’m not saying I have a complete understanding of everything a woman, in this case, faces in this particular circumstance. I’m just saying there is much more to any one experience than what any one person knows and could imagine to be true.
I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again, things are much different — in ways you can imagine, sure, but it’s the stuff you didn’t consider that really makes you appreciate what certain things truly mean for an individual who isn’t you — on the other side.
But I can’t imagine what life would be like without any access to sanitation. Please do yourself a favour and familiarize yourself with the issue. I will…