Restroom signs serve the essential purpose of guiding patrons to the appropriate facilities. In theory, locating a bathroom shouldn’t be a complex task. These signs come in a variety of designs, hues, and motifs to cater to different preferences. While some appreciate straightforward, vibrant, and easily readable signs, others gravitate towards more intricate and creative options.
However, in the pursuit of originality, some designers have taken things too far, resulting in stereotypical, perplexing, or even offensive signage. While we can admire the inventiveness behind these unconventional designs, it’s often best to prioritize clarity and inclusivity. The following collection of questionably gendered and stereotyped bathroom signs demonstrates the pitfalls of sacrificing function for the sake of misguided creativity.
The Wrong Way to Be Right
While the joke that the woman is always right might be amusing between grandparents, it’s far from true. Both men and women can be equally stubborn or wrong in any given situation. Arrogance knows no gender.
Though intended as a pun, the phrase comes across as foolish. The notion that women are more obstinate or men are usually wrong is an outdated relic of a bygone era.
Passing on Gender Stereotypes
Society is increasingly rejecting gender-specific assumptions that limit children’s choices. As such, this school hall pass is disheartening, as it reinforces harmful stereotypes. The teachers likely meant well and didn’t see the issue.
A hall pass featuring sports, milkshakes, and cupcakes is fine. The problem lies in the gender-specific assignment. It could lead children to develop skewed thinking. There’s nothing wrong with boys enjoying cupcakes and milkshakes or girls preferring football and sports.
Nutty or Not?
We appreciate those who break the mold to create something unique. As squirrels lack “sexual dimorphism” – meaning males and females look alike – they work well for a clever restroom sign. The issue arises with the clothing and makeup stereotyping genders.
The clever “no nuts and nuts” joke, coupled with the outfits, makes it hard to be too upset. However, the use of makeup on the female sign, while technically accurate, feels too offensive to be endearing.
Pee-ping Tom
Women aren’t the only ones subjected to negative stereotyping on restroom signs. Some, like this one, carry a male-biased message, implying that men frequently behave inappropriately in bathrooms. This design is repulsive, to say the least.
Depicting a man peeping over the divider into the women’s restroom is offensive to both genders. It’s surprising that the establishment’s management didn’t object to the design, which insults responsible men.
Ruff Signals
The designer attempted to incorporate a furry friend theme, but may have overlooked that all dog breeds have male and female representatives. They used a bulldog for the men’s room and a poodle for the women’s.
The designer leaned into the association of gruff bulldogs with masculinity, as often portrayed in media, and dainty poodles with femininity. Surely there are more respectful ways to represent each gender.
Surfing the Waves
At least this designer acknowledged that women can enjoy sports, but still managed to be offensive in the process. Jump rope is frequently associated with girls, particularly young ones. Oddly, there are numerous well-known female surfers.
While there’s nothing inherently wrong with jump rope, and it’s a step up from purely domestic imagery, there’s room for improvement. Why do women get the schoolyard sport while men get the more challenging activity?
Double the Distastefulness
Here’s another sign that would offend both men and women. They used basic stick figures and even ditched the boxy shirt for men and dress for women, but something is still very wrong. Need we even say it?
Clearly, the owner saw nothing amiss, as evidenced by the repeated use of these signs. The black print above the signs took a moment to decipher – apparently, the female figure has pigtails. Is that an improvement or further degradation from the standard dress?
Buggin’ Out
This artwork’s message is perhaps the most perplexing on the list. As with dogs, all insect species have males and females. The decision to use only butterflies and moths for women is puzzling.
Why do men get a variety of insects while women are limited to Lepidoptera? Entomologists might also note the missed opportunity: damselflies are on the male side, but the word “damsel” refers to women!
Tall Women Not Welcome?
No one should face discrimination based on their height, a trait we have no control over. Although men are generally taller than women, height varies widely within each gender. The creator of this restroom sign attempted to use this difference to differentiate the facilities.
It’s unclear whether the women’s restroom door is shorter than standard or the men’s is taller. If it’s the former, tall women may feel excluded or uncomfortable choosing the shorter entryway. A sign that makes any patron feel unwelcome is a design failure.
Single-Minded Stalls
Many people mistakenly associate certain interests or traits with a specific gender, even though these characteristics are not inherently gendered. The outdated notion that only women enjoy shopping or only men like sports is simply untrue.
This restroom sign doubles down on stereotypes, reducing each gender to a single focus. While it’s equally offensive to both men and women, labeling either as one-dimensional is disrespectful. Equality in poor taste is still poor taste.
Chatty Cathy and Silent Sam?
The belief that women are more talkative than men is a baseless stereotype that needs to be put to rest. This misconception likely inspired the creator of these restroom signs. In reality, men can be just as loquacious as women.
Perhaps this artist has never encountered a man who out-talks a woman. Beyond perpetuating stereotypes, these signs could confuse patrons. A standard, inoffensive label would have been preferable to this misguided attempt at humor.
Dads Need Not Apply
In a society striving for greater male involvement in childcare and parenting, this restroom sign is a step backwards. Most men’s restroom designs overlook the possibility that fathers may need to change their baby’s diaper, lacking changing tables and disposal facilities.
One wonders what a dad would do if he needed to change his child in this establishment. Would he have to seek assistance from a female employee? Or search for a rare father-friendly restroom elsewhere? This exclusionary design fails to support modern parenting.
Touchdown or Pom-Poms
Assuming only men play football and only women cheerlead reveals an antiquated mindset. In truth, either gender can pursue these activities based on personal interest and ability. Not every woman aspires to be a cheerleader, nor does every man dream of being a football player.
The creator of this behind-the-times sign could benefit from expanding their perspective. Individuals should be free to make choices without the burden of gender stereotypes. These restroom labels are an unnecessary reinforcement of outdated expectations.
Epic Failure
This restroom sign is a prime example of an attempt at creativity falling flat. As if the gender-coded paint colors weren’t enough, the accompanying text is stereotypical, offensive, and in the case of the men’s door, puzzling.
Contrary to the implication, the pursuit of weight loss is not exclusive to women. Men also strive to shed pounds, and these words could negatively impact someone struggling with body image or an eating disorder. The labels “women” and “gent” would have sufficed.
Mythical Mermaids and Swashbuckling Pirates
The mermaid is a well-known mythical creature, often portrayed as female. However, male mermaids – mermen – do exist in folklore. This renders the sign’s implication odd. It’s also worth noting that women can be pirates, too, though they’re less common in popular depictions.
Strangely, this sign represents women as mythical beings and men as historical figures. Consistency would dictate using mermaids and mermen or male and female pirates. The juxtaposition of fantasy and reality adds an extra layer of confusion to an already perplexing design choice.
Your Mother Doesn’t Work Here!
Statistics show that women still shoulder the majority of household chores in most homes, perpetuating the assumption that housekeeping is a woman’s primary domestic role. Despite changing times, some still believe cleaning is not a man’s job.
Surely there was a more appealing way to convey this message without resorting to sexism. Declaring “your mother doesn’t work here!” is disrespectful. Keeping shared spaces clean is everyone’s responsibility, not just a mother’s.
Skirting the Issue
It’s disheartening to see disparaging language used to label genders in public spaces like restrooms. This door sign is particularly misleading, as both men and women wear pants. The designer likely intended to suggest skirts for women and pants for men.
Taken literally, the “pants” restroom could cause confusion, as women commonly wear them. One wonders what a kilt-clad Scotsman would do when faced with this conundrum. Sacrificing clarity for the sake of forced cleverness benefits no one.
Of Cowboys and Angels
The connection between cowboys and angels is tenuous at best. While both are popular motifs, they’re rarely associated with each other. Cowboys and cowgirls would be a logical pairing, but how would one differentiate male and female angels?
Regardless of the inspiration behind this design, it’s both controversial and confusing. When it comes to restroom signs, prioritize simplicity and readability, even when aiming for creativity. Patrons will appreciate straightforward guidance over a perplexing theme.
Whale of a Confusion
The only plausible explanation for this designer’s choices is a dearth of ideas. There’s no other justification for giving the male a mustache and the female a fish – or mermaid? – tail. Was that really necessary?
They also attempted “wordplay” by labeling the women’s room “fewhale.” We’ve seen feminine prefixes added to words, like “shero” instead of “hero,” but this is a stretch. For gendered restrooms, simply writing “male” and “female” would have sufficed.
Brilliant or Gorgeous, Why Not Both?
We commend the designer for moving away from outdated descriptors. However, they stumbled by describing girls solely based on appearance while characterizing males by intelligence. It’s unfair to regard women as merely “gorgeous girls.”
Women can be both smart and beautiful, and so can men! The alliteration is cute, but reinforcing negative gender stereotypes is inappropriate anywhere, especially when you’re just trying to find the restroom. Why do “creative” designers resort to such tactics?
Worst. Signage. Ever.
We have many questions here. Or maybe not. It’s hard to determine if this is offensive, creative, or something in between. The design is undoubtedly confusing for anyone unfamiliar with emojis or their meanings. This sign caters to a specific age group.
Imagine trying to give directions to a child or your grandparents. Explaining why those phrases were used would be an awkward conversation no one wants to have. Such subversive phrasing seems inappropriate for public restroom signs.
Encouraging Untidiness?
At first glance, this designer appears to encourage men to be messy in the restroom. The photo is from a Jimmy John’s restaurant, where patrons are typically expected to be tidy and clean up after themselves. This sends a mixed message.
We all know men stand and women sit, but they took it too far. Calling sitting “girly” is offensive to women. Depicting “showoff” encourages young boys to test it out and create a mess. The purpose of the “showoff” sign is unclear.
Misplaced Priorities
A major issue with gendered restrooms is that sign designers often use stereotypical language to characterize women. In this example, the designer depicted a woman applying lipstick, while the male character came to relieve himself.
Bathroom signs shouldn’t imply that women primarily use public facilities to touch up their makeup. Women also use the restroom for bodily functions, and men use mirrors to fix their hair. These stereotypical signs are insulting to both genders and should be discouraged.
Colors Don’t Define Gender
Many people mistakenly believe certain colors indicate specific genders. Blue is associated with boys, while pink is thought to be for girls. However, colors aren’t gender-specific, and anyone can like either.
In fact, it used to be the opposite. Until the mid-1900s, pink was linked to boys and blue to girls. Believe it or not, blue was once considered a dainty color. This is just one reason why using colors to denote gender is wrong. It’s completely arbitrary!
Undergarment Faux Pas
Apart from stereotypical language, some designers differentiate genders through clothing. This bathroom’s designer chose to hang underwear to represent each gender. While this may appeal to some, it may not resonate with others, as people now embrace diverse clothing styles.
At least they used older undergarments in neutral colors for the signage! If they were to use modern clothing, they’d have to choose between boxers or briefs. That alone would be confusing, as some women find men’s boxers comfortable.
My Pronouns are Yin and Yang?
When it comes to perplexing signs, this one tops our list. The designer seemed to believe everyone would understand their intent. Apart from the “yin and yang,” nothing else distinguishes these gendered restrooms.
Beyond personal discretion, it’s difficult to determine what factors influence the decision to use either restroom. This scenario exemplifies why gendering restrooms is unnecessary. Even though yin and yang are often associated with feminine and masculine energy, using the same symbol is additionally confusing.
Confounding for All Genders
Perhaps we awarded the most perplexing bathroom sign title too soon, as we’ve found a new contender. Even after a long, zoomed-in look, we can’t come up with a reasonable explanation for these signs.
It’s hard to discern the design on these bathroom doors. Setting aside the gender stereotypes of the woman in heels and the man playing hockey, the design is simply bizarre. Why attach arms and legs with no torso in between?
Cartoon Conundrum
Gendered outlines direct patrons, using blue and pink, with the girl sporting a ponytail and dress. But that wasn’t enough. The designer had to add cartoons.
So, Hello Kitty is for girls only, and Pepe is for boys? Another noteworthy detail is the cartoons’ expressions. Hello Kitty appears to be struggling, while Pepe seems to be quietly relieving himself. We wonder if this is yet another stereotypical categorization based on gender.
Definitions in Distress
We’re not sure which dictionary this designer consulted, but these definitions are certainly not found in any reputable reference we know of. Their interpretations are incorrect on every level, and we can’t fathom how they arrived at these conclusions.
Assigning inanimate terms like “laugh and filth” and equating boys to “dirty noise” is disrespectful. Moreover, sassy giggling isn’t a uniquely female trait. In cases like this, designers should stick to standard signage rather than causing confusion with misguided attempts at creativity.
Mirror, Mirror, on the Wall
Here’s another example of a discriminatory remark made in a public restroom. A Reddit user spotted this in a frequently visited facility and shared it online. It’s unclear whether the designer intended to slight men or women with this one.
Mirror usage isn’t gender-specific. Are they implying that women overuse mirrors or that men are too confident to need them? One wonders if the exterior restroom doors featured an equally offensive message.
Oh Deer, That’s Not Right
This sign is biologically incorrect. In most deer species, only males have antlers. While there are rare cases of antlered females, it’s the exception, not the rule. Why couldn’t they depict one deer with antlers and one without? And why add flowers to the antlered female?
The designs aren’t lazy, either. They didn’t use the same head and merely add flowers to one. The buck’s face is distinct from the doe’s. Confusing signage aside, the lovely design earns them some points.
Hats Off to Confusion
This public restroom’s design is perplexing. As the footnote correctly states, top hats and lipstick aren’t clear-cut distinguishing factors. Broadening it to hats and lipstick doesn’t help. What if someone wears both accessories?
Since the facilities required gendered restrooms, simple, standard signage would have sufficed. The most ridiculous aspect? This was found at a university. One would hope that academics are above perpetuating gender stereotypes.
Lost in Translation
Recall an earlier sign implying that only women can be parents? Men can and should be responsible for their children’s needs, and restrooms should accommodate them. Sharing the load becomes extremely difficult, if not impossible, when men’s rooms lack changing stations.
The absence of diaper-changing facilities in men’s bathrooms must be frustrating for fathers visiting with their babies. And let’s not overlook the addition of blue and pink, doubling down on gender stereotypes. This design needs an immediate overhaul.
Dressed for Distress
We’d like to have a word with this sign’s designer. As mentioned before, women can and often do wear pants. So, what does “mens clothes” even mean? Shirts and pants? Or did they simply need an accompanying sign for the women’s room that read “dresses”?
We must also point out the designer’s poor grasp of English. Shouldn’t there be an apostrophe in “mens”? This sign offends not only gender sensibilities but also English grammar. To be honest, it’s rather uncreative. Let’s hope the designer didn’t create any more after this one.
Sharks, Mermaids, and Myths
A local café’s restroom used “sharks and mermaids” as gender-discriminating criteria. While both are aquatic creatures, there’s a significant difference: one is real, and the other is mythical. Not to belabor the point, but why not just use mermen?
In this case, we feel sorry for the sharks. Is the implication that sharks are aggressive, a trait often associated with males? Sharks are nothing like their movie stereotypes, and once again, there are both males and females! All in all, this one is just confusing and misguided.
Garbage In, Garbage Out
To be fair, this one isn’t as egregious. Both men and women may have waste in the restroom, but it’s reasonable to say that women typically need to dispose of sanitary napkins and tampons – an issue men don’t face.
However, the inclusion of nappies in the list of female waste suggests that men aren’t involved in changing diapers and caring for their children. Does this mean the men’s room lacks diaper-changing facilities? Why does this problem persist?
A Sour Note
This one is creative and admittedly cute, but ultimately pointless. Most signs on this list exploit gender stereotypes to differentiate their bathrooms, and while this one does so to a degree, it’s not as egregious as others.
Yes, guitar players are more often associated with males, but female musicians aren’t out of place. Sticking with the music theme, associating males with bulky headphones wouldn’t be amiss. The inclusion of a baby playing the keyboard is a cute touch, though.
Pizza Puzzler
When distinguishing between males and females, the difference usually comes down to pants versus dresses and hair length. So, what were they aiming for with this one? Having a cartoon pizza on the doors of a pizza place is perfectly fine, but making them different is just bizarre.
As the comment humorously points out, why does the female slice have arms? Unlike most images on this list, there’s no stereotyping involved – it’s just confusing and absurd to differentiate between the two signs.
Bungled Buns and Backwards Thinking
Using restroom signs to comment on physical attributes, especially the buttocks, is highly inappropriate. This sign takes it a step further by assigning specific rear-end characteristics to each gender. Who decided that only women can have “shapely Bunz”?
Labeling people with such terms is unethical. Humans come in a vast array of shapes and sizes, regardless of gender. The meaning of “manly Bunz” remains unclear, but the description is offensive nonetheless.
Mind Your Manners, Everyone
Anyone who has witnessed the deplorable state of some public restrooms knows that a lesson in bathroom etiquette wouldn’t go amiss. However, this applies to both genders equally. Men and women alike should know better.
The sign’s protocol seems universal until it asserts that women are the “cleaner sex.” This statement reeks of gender bias. Cleanliness should not be tied to gender; everyone should be considerate and maintain a tidy environment.