RESTROOMS AS POLITICO-ECONOMIC SPACES: A DIALECTIC OF PUBLIC RESOURCE ACCESS AND GENDER IDENTITY
Keywords:
Public Restrooms, Political Economy, Gender Identity, Comparative Law, Critical TheoryAbstract
This academic article analyzes "restrooms" as spaces imbued with politico-economic significance and as an arena for struggles over gender identity. The objectives are to examine the nexus between the allocations of public resources (restrooms) and the definition and regulation of gender identity, compare laws and practices in foreign countries with those in Thailand, and propose new critical theoretical insights. The research employs documentary analysis, comparative analysis, and critical analysis, applying concepts from key thinkers such as Foucault, Butler, and feminist legal theory.
The study reveals that restrooms are not merely physical sanitary facilities but are products of power dynamics. The binary gender segregation of restrooms reflects and reproduces unequal power structures, negatively influencing gender-diverse individuals, particularly transgender and non-binary people, in terms of mental and physical health, and social participation. Comparative legal analysis indicates that while many countries have progressed in recognizing rights and implementing inclusive restrooms, Thailand still faces challenges both legally and social attitudes.
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