Re: Lavatories, bathrooms,... Was: Re: Hymn to Ikea

Andreas Johansson quaerit:

> Why is it "men's" and "ladies'", not "men's" and "women's", or
> "gentlemen's" and "ladies'"? The last would correspond to Swedish (and
> German) usage; the first time I ran across a men's room that said simply
> "men" on the door I found it somewhat impolite.
I don't know *why*; I can only report the facts.  To speak of "the women's
room" used to be a political act (there is a feminist novel of that name
dating from the 70s) but is now more ordinary, though I think "ladies'
room" still dominates; the door itself commonly says "WOMEN" nowadays.
To speak of "the gentlemen's room" would be farcical.

This may be connected with the social pretense (still lingering) that
all women are ladies.  There has never been any question of pretending
that all men are gentlemen.

Tristan McLeay scripsit:

> When I ask for gladwrap, bandaids or coke, I'm not desiring products
> by Glad, Johnson & Johnson (or however it's spelt) or the Coca-Cola
> Company, but rather a clear plastic food-wrap-film, something to cover
> a wound, or cola.
In the American South, "coke" refers to any soft drink whatsoever,
whether cola-flavored or not.

--
I suggest you call for help,                    John Cowan
or learn the difficult art of mud-breathing.    jcowan@reutershealth.com
        --Great-Souled Sam                      http://www.ccil.org/~cowan