An avatar of normative femininity

[osprey_archer]

It’s in the pilot of That Seventies Show. Community devotes an episode to it. Even Sports Night references it. Why is pop culture so obsessed with the idea that women always go to the bathroom in groups?

Especially given that I have only met a vanishing small number of women who, in fact, actually go to the bathroom in gaggles; indeed, only one girl who went so far as to recruit people to go to the bathroom with her, and she was hardly an avatar of normative femininity.

(Maybe that’s why she did it. She thought it would make up for her femininity shortfalls.)

But! I have a theory. These episodes are written by men, who normally pay no attention when women go to the bathroom - except when women are using the bathroom as an excuse to escape from their unwanted advances. And under those circumstances, of course, it’s much more common to recruit companions: otherwise, there might be no one in the bathroom to snark with about the creeper’s creepiness!

Comments

[bogwitch64.livejournal.com]

I don't know if it's a device that got started for media's sake, or if the media picked up on a real life device, but I do remember, as a younger woman, going to the bathroom in pairs, at least, especially when going out with someone new.

I think you hit it though--men only notice because it's THEY we are going in there to talk about, and some deep-rooted bit of male ego knows it.

[osprey-archer.livejournal.com]

Possibly it's a feedback loop? A few girls went to the bathroom one time, and a guy put it on a TV show, and more girls saw it and thought "Wait, are we supposed to be going to the bathroom in groups?", etc. etc...

[entwashian.livejournal.com]

I usually do go to the bathroom with someone else, actually. But mostly because I usually don't have empirical knowledge of where the restrooms are located and I have a poor sense of direction.

[osprey-archer.livejournal.com]

Way to rain on my theory! But you're right, restrooms are often hidden.

[exuberantself.livejournal.com]

I think sometimes girls go together because one person will finally break and yell "IGOTTAPEE" or something and someone else will agree and you'll go in search together. On the other hand, I don't even like having anyone else in the room with me at all.

"An avatar or normative femininity" is the phrase of the day, by the way.

[osprey-archer.livejournal.com]

"An avatar of normative femininity" is an awesome phrase. I feel like I need to find a way to work it into conversation, just so I can say it out loud.