Toilet Etiquette: Cross-Cultural Comparisons

As a member of American culture I am very familiar with what the cultural expectations are, particularly when it comes to using and going to the bathroom.  These cultural practices, however, are not universal, and our toilet etiquette is unique, particularly compared to the remainder of the world.  This blog post is a continuation of the Covid-19 inspired posts, in which the hording of toilet paper by American households occurred, so it is with that that I was inspired to address how other cultural groups take care of business, be it with or without the use of toilet paper.  The added bonus about this post is that you will also learn some very important lessons about how to use the bathroom/toilet if you ever travel.

Figure 1: A French bidet (Image Source: Google Images)

     While it is customary in American (and many Western) culture(s) to use toilet paper, this is actually not typical around the globe.  The most commonly used mechanism for cleaning oneself after urinating or defecating is actually through water, be it through the use of a bidet (Figure 1) or another device.  As previously discussed in last week's post bidets were invented in the 1600s in France.  The term bidet is derived from the French root word for "pony".  This term was chosen because the actions required to use a bidet, straddling the apparatus, are similar to riding a horse, and it was customary in the 1600s for the aristocratic French to use a bidet after participating in that particular past time.  Bidets also were originally found in the bedrooms, alongside the chamber pot, but they moved to the bathroom with the invention of indoor plumbing.  This is also when their popularity took off as they are now found throughout various parts of Europe, the Middle East, northern Africa, Asia, and even parts of South America.

       The bidet, however, is not the only option for cleaning oneself after using the facilities.  Simply using water and a variety of devices to hold the water is quite commonplace.  For example, in various parts of the Middle East bidet users are so wed to using water that they often carry around a shattaf or “bum gun”, which is hose unit that is attached to toilets and works as an impromptu bidet.  In various parts of southern Asia it is customary to use a bonda, which is a container used for pouring water, alongside one's left hand to direct the water to the appropriate portions of the body requiring cleaning (Figure 2).  It is important to note that this method is also accompanied by the strict adherence to washing one's hands after using the bathroom, which is not so strictly enforced in America. 

Figure 2: Example of using the toilet in southern Asia (Image Source: Slater Harrison)

   

      Where a bidet or water is not commonplace toilet paper is used, but it is not flushed down the toilet.  Throughout Mediterranean countries, Ukraine, and parts of Chile it is customary to deposit soiled toilet paper into a trash receptacle placed next to the toilet.  This is because flushed toilet paper will clog the pipes and cause breaks in the sewer systems.  This is actually a commonplace problem here in the US, particularly with the onset and use of "flushable" toilet wipes that are actually not that flushable.  Toilet paper, wipes, and other hygiene products that are flushed cause thousands of dollars in damages annually, damages that are typically incurred by individuals, not city or state entities

     
    At this point you may be asking why is it that not all cultural groups use toilet paper?  As previously mentioned toilet paper can cause very serious and expensive plumbing issues.  Additionally, though, toilet paper is actually not all that effective in cleaning oneself.  Water and bidets are more efficient and effective in appropriately cleaning the body after urination or defecation.  Lastly, the production and consumption of toilet paper is very environmentally degrading.  The production of toilet paper requires a large number of lumber resources, and the bleaching process for the white toilet paper is environmentally wasteful, too.  Then there are the costs related to packaging toilet paper, which creates more waste that cannot be recycled in many cases, and then the costs related to just purchasing toilet paper can be off putting.

      So why don't Americans use bidets?  A number of Americans, particularly those of higher socioeconomic statuses, have begun to adopt the bidet, but overall it remains less popular among the majority of Americans.  The reasons for this are cultural.  Americans are most familiar with the toilet paper method for cleaning oneself, and therefore are loathe to deviate from that.  There are additional cultural reasons, though, which stem from our Puritanical beliefs about the body and the representations of the bidet.  During a previous global conflict American servicemen were introduced to the bidet while they were visiting prostitutes, and the bidet was then associated with sex work, which is overall looked down upon in American culture.  The bidet was also largely and historically marketed to women as a means of dealing with and cleaning up during menstruation, which is another taboo topic among Americans.  Taken together, it is a combination of these reasons why the bidet, which again is more common and environmentally more sound, has not taken off here in the United States.

     To learn more about cultural practices related to bathroom etiquette please read this student's post.

   References

Chile Forum. Living in Chile. 8 August 2017. Electronic. 14 April 2020.

Harrison, Slater. Toilet Hygiene in Bangladesh. 2004. Electronic. 14 April 2020.

Hart, Maria Teresa. "The Bidet's Revival." The Atlantic 18 March 2018. Electronic.

Ro, Christine. "The peculiar bathroom habits of Westerners." 6 October 2019. BBC. Electronic. 14 April 2020.

The Portland Loo. Do You Know Your World Toilet Culture? 8 January 2020. Electronic. 14 April 2020.

 

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