“I just couldn’t vote for a woman.”

Political commentators suggest this is what some men are secretly thinking about Kamala Harris, even though they won’t openly admit it. Instead, they concoct elaborate excuses to mask their bias. If a man’s bottom line for voting is influenced by what’s near my bottom, maybe the solution lies in addressing another matter related to bottoms — namely, toilets.

Yes, toilet seat etiquette — a conversation we avoid because it’s awkward, but one we can’t keep flushing away. I recently stepped into public restrooms at a gas station and a restaurant, only to be greeted by toilet seats up, sticky floors, and walls splattered like a bad art experiment. Disgusted, I lowered the seat with toilet paper shielding my fingers, cleaned it as best I could, and dried it before doing my “business.” Unless women have secretly mastered peeing while standing, we know who’s leaving their mark.

Some might ask, “Why bother cleaning it? Why not just squat?” But here’s the better question: Why are women even faced with this choice? And why, in the 21st century, are we still teaching boys to pee standing up? Are they incapable of sitting? (Is someone about to inform me men prefer to have bowel movements standing too?) So why does sitting become a logistical nightmare when it comes to urination? Is there some hidden physiological reason I’ve missed?

From an early age, boys are trained to believe that standing to pee is their default, while girls, without exception, are taught to sit. This training sends a message: men are allowed to do things differently, even if it makes life harder for others — particularly women. By normalizing this behavior, we’re essentially teaching boys that it’s OK to prioritize their convenience over the cleanliness and comfort of others — most often women.

It might be more convenient to pee standing up but think about the mess that can happen when men choose to stand. What about all those middle-of-the-night trips to the “John”? The chances of perfect aim go down, and the mess gets worse. And when liquid hits a surface at an angle, it splashes. And guess where that splash-back goes? All over the seat, the floor, and the surrounding area. It’s physics, and it’s gross.

We can’t overlook the fact that women already handle a disproportionate share of household chores, including cleaning. When men insist on standing to pee, it reinforces an imbalance that spills over from the bathroom into broader aspects of life. Conversely choosing to sit in a shared bathroom is an implicit message of mutual respect.

If you’re thinking, ‘It’s not a big deal, just put the seat down,’ remember, common practice doesn’t make it right. This isn’t about habits. It’s about unspoken messages of whose convenience takes priority — and why it shouldn’t. Teaching boys that it’s acceptable to leave a mess for others to clean underpins the idea that men’s needs come first. We’re essentially teaching them that it’s okay for their convenience to take priority over the cleanliness and comfort of others — most often women.

Try and think of it this way, it isn’t about a bathroom habit; it’s about respect, equality, and the unspoken messages we send about who deserves convenience and who doesn’t. Why would we want to enable a practice that increases the mess for others to deal with and demonstrates a lack of respect?

Here’s a fun fact: In Germany, men are encouraged to sit down when they pee, not just for hygiene but for health reasons too (it’s easier on the prostate). Germans even have a word for it — ‘Sitzpinkler,’ meaning men who sit to pee. If the Germans can lead the way with engineering marvels like the Autobahn, surely, we can adopt their approach to bathroom hygiene.

Why isn’t this the norm here? The answer probably lies in outdated notions of masculinity. Somewhere along the way, standing to pee became a symbol of being “manly.” But there’s nothing manly about being inconsiderate.

So, here’s my radical thought: let’s teach boys to sit while potty training — just like girls. It’s more hygienic, fosters equality, and shows respect for shared spaces. And for those men who insist on standing? They should be responsible for cleaning up afterward. Let’s see how quickly that habit changes when the mess is theirs to handle.

Because if we can’t get men to respect shared spaces like bathrooms, how can we expect them to respect women in the boardroom or the voting booth?

So, sit down. Show some respect. And if you ever visit my place and need to use the bathroom? Well, you know what to do.