these two images attempt to correlate interaction within the human environment. the images depict the identical handrails found at the top of the toilet steps on opposite sides of edinburgh’s cameo cinema lobby. in general, the public toilet is one of the few public spaces which still operate as a single sex environment and thus enables us to witness a natural, direct contrast between male and female behaviour. the interior of the cameo building has not been redecorated since the cinema’s refurbishment in 1986. thus the study displays the result of a 22 year period. the images are set up as they would be found if looking from the back of the lobby out of the cinema and into the street, this is the direction from which the majority of toilet users travel as they arrive from the cinemas and bar located within the building. the male hand rail (left) has evidence of a lot of use, the paint also appears to be more evenly ‘rubbed’ off. this is in contrast to the female handrail, which, relative to the male handrail, displays less evidence of use and the existing marks are less even and could be better described as chip marks. so what does the study suggest? that men haven’t evolved like women and still swing like apes when they go to the toilet? that women visit the toilet before they are so desperate that they have to brace themselves ahead of rushing down the stairs? that men have less consideration over hygiene within public spaces? that only married women touch handrails? that men like to hold things and women less so? that women don’t attend the cinema as often as men? that women don’t attend the toilet as often as men? that men have a weaker bladder? that men drink more? that women are more respectful of inanimate objects? that there is no difference between men and women but humans prefer to support themselves with their right hand? the evidence is minimal but it opens our mind to so many questions. difficult, nigh-unanswerable, questions. our structures may be simple, reproducible and universal, but we are complex, individual and specific.
