Via iStockphoto / @carofiney TikTok
TikToker @carofine was at Washington Dulles International Airport using the restroom when a worker violated her privacy.
In a bathroom, privacy is expected. In the restroom, however, things can get a bit dicey. Someone may stick their hand underneath the stall. You may hear a conversation that was clearly not for public consumption. Or to check occupancy, someone will try to open the door or peek under a stall. It’s a constant flow of people with, most times, urgent needs. So these things happen. But what about the toilet paper being changed out while actively trying to use the restroom?
TikToker @carofine was at Washington Dulles International Airport using the restroom when a custodian was cleaning the adjacent stall. The cleaner then changed the toilet paper. The problem was, once the empty roll was removed, there was a gaping hole. And the hole exposed the traveler while she was mid-session.
“This is not OK. You can literally see me naked. Stop,” she insists, but the restroom attendant continues to refill the toilet paper. In the video, the TikToker places her hands in front of the hole to try and regain some semblance of privacy.
Then, she again insists, “You can see through the stall. Don’t do that again. It’s not appropriate.”
By that time, the attendant is finished changing the roll of toilet tissue. The tissue appears to be a replacement for the stall that the TikToker was in, but it could be loaded from the next stall over, which easily dredged up questions regarding privacy in restrooms.
A spokesperson for Washington Dulles International Airport told BroBible via email, “While we haven’t heard from the customer involved, we have heard from others who saw the video. We are working with the custodial contractor to review and address deficiencies and issue corrective actions to ensure customers are treated with dignity and receive the privacy to which they are entitled.”
The comments on the video ranged from “it’s no big deal” to “this is absolutely abhorrent.”
“Forget contacting them, go straight to an attorney and report them to the state. This is huge lawsuit, email your local news,” said a commenter.
How Were Restroom Stalls Created?
According to the Healthy Handwashing Survey by the Bradley Company, 70% of Americans feel like stalls lack sufficient privacy measures. Furthermore, 58% say all gaps around the doors and walls should be sealed. With another 45% prefer for the wall to be extended from the floor to the ceiling.
Like many things, American restroom stalls were not created with the user [or privacy] in mind. The stalls were created with owners and cleaning in mind.
“I used to work cleaning an airport and we were told to wait for the bathrooms to be empty and then close it while you clean so nobody is in there. But also what kind of design even is this [because] we never had these,” said one commenter.
“She didn’t design the stall. She just trying to do her job,” said another commenter.
Architect Frank Lloyd Wright is credited with creating today’s standard stall. His pioneering off the floor partition set the stage for the stall we all know and use today. The line of thought with adoption was that the materials used were cheap, but durable, could be mass produced, easy to transport and assemble. The gaps allowed for cleaners to easily clean without obstructions. The absence of crevices meant there was nowhere significant to hold moisture, and it allowed for ventilation of the space.
Airport Restrooms: Should You Expect Privacy?
While public restrooms have evolved from being a communal space, today’s modern restroom is still a far cry from private. The half inch gap between the door and door frame and the 12 inches of space underneath and the 12 inches plus above leaves much privacy to be desired. Even with those vulnerabilities, once the door is locked, there is an implied expectation of privacy.
BroBible could not reach @carofine for comment.