Building Design and Gendered Spaces

There is an incredible Art Deco theater in Oakland, CA, the Paramount. At one time, guides provided tours of the building. (I hope this still happens for nerds needing a fix at 7am on a Saturday. Yep, that was the only time/day of the week for such in 1989. No doubt to help limit the group size. But I digress.) An interesting fact I learned during my turn was the original design did not include commodes for the Ladies’ Powder Room. Proper women were expected to hold their water when out in the world in 1931. Men were provided urinals.

Fast forward to 1971.

Not only was the 2nd Floor Women’s Room in the Charlotte Capers Building outfitted with toilets, but also a lounge with furniture to match the Mid-Century interior style of the building. The blue is not on the dominating Ochre/Wheat/Moss Green palette, but probably deliberate. Or, maybe it was reupholstered when the ashtrays were removed from the stalls.

Bet cash money the design of the Men’s Room does not include a place to sit. No need. Public space is male.

Tales from Jackson