As shocking as this may sound to those living in developed countries, not everyone has the right to pee for free without being publicly humiliated, particularly women in India.



This basic human right that most of us probably take for granted is pretty much a constant struggle in India, where half of the households don't even have toilets so they usually resort to doing their business outdoors.

In order to avoid the harassment and potential sexual assault, many women are often forced to go early and wait in line for public restrooms. The reason for the queue is that access is scarce, as the municipal government only provides 3,536 toilets for women compared to the 5,993 public toilets for men. Men are also provided an additional 2,466 urinals which they can use for free since the urinals don't need water. Technically, women who are using toilets just to pee aren't supposed to pay either. However, the male attendants who guard the bathrooms often force them to pay up anyways since they can't exactly go in to check.

The toilet situation in Mumbai is said to be so severe that the women there are actually drinking less water in hopes they won't have to pee that much, leading to various female health problems like UTI and bladder infections as well as dehydration.

In an attempt to put an end to this sexist double standard, social advocates began a "Right to Pee" campaign in 2011. So far their efforts have yielded promising results, with some local legislators pledging to build more toilets for women and to make sure they stay free of charge. So think about that the next time you step inside a ladies washroom.

via New York Times