Why are squat toilets less common worldwide despite perceived hygiene benefits?

[Jewelmyth]

I have both a squat toilet and a Western-style toilet at home, but I don't use the Western-style toilet because I don't find it hygienic at all. Frankly, even some doctors recommend squat toilets, but unfortunately, they're not very common.

Updates

5 d

It's absolutely essential to have a toilet for disabled and elderly people; in other words, both should be present in a home.

[RingOfFire]

A. A "squat toilet" is fine for females but not great for males. Women are much more flexible in their legs for biological reasons so it is easier for them to squat in that position. Mens' legs are more muscular and their muscles are denser and more tight than womens' muscles which makes them stronger than women but less flexible and it isn't easy to stay in that position for long and can be painful. There was a popular product advertised incessantly in America some years ago called the "Squatty Potty" that was just a little bench that lifted up your feet while you sit on a regular toilet so that you were in more of a squat position. Seemed useless to me but all that advertising must have sold millions of them.

B. "It's absolutely essential to have a toilet for disabled and elderly people; in other words, both should be present in a home." Why would it be "essential" to have a toilet for disabled and elderly people in your home if there are no disabled or elderly people living there? I don't know about your home, but in mine, the bathroom is not open to the public.

[RingOfFire]

Also should have mentioned that there is another difference between toilet types between men and women. Womens' uninary stream while in a squatting position is downward by default, while for a man it is angled forwards. Therefore while it may be possible to design a squat toilet in a way that can contain a mans' urinary stream, it is likely less feasible than having the standard toilet design. Since by "hygienic" I assume you mean "no contact," it would be difficult to do for a man in a squat toilet without having the urinary stream go all over the place.

[Levin]

Squatting is a natural movement pattern. The reason Westerners can't do it (and yes, men are generally tighter), is because we don't practice it. Check out movesmethod on youtube.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1OMXqcMYVA

[nastyb]

do you realize that squatting has been a pooping position for thousands of years throughout history except today?

the reason why men can't squat today is because most of them are weak and inactive and never work out. Back then, men hunted and fought wars.

[nastyb]

squatting straightens the colon for a better clean out during pooping. it prevents colon cancer.
that's why people invented the squatty potty. if you don't know what it is, google it. It imitates the squatting position on the toilet

[bananathunder]

I've never even seen a squat toilet in person. I would assume those are for poor people

[Jewelmyth]

🤣🤣🤣 That's a rather funny answer; no, it's not for poor people, it exists because people like me use it.

[bananathunder]

just not popular in the US I guess lol

[Jewelmyth]

Yes, it's not common actually, you're kind of right, it's more common to see them in poor countries. I also get annoyed when I see toilets in shopping malls or anywhere else.

[bananathunder]

why would you be annoyed at seeing a toilet?

[shish_kebab]

I've seen them in Thailand and Japan, but they're optional. They have both styles for you to choose from. I'm not about to squat when I can relax and sit. Imagine having a desk with no chair. You just sit there and squat all day. 😜
I guess you would have quads of steel.

[Kvass]

Had to try it once on a trip, 0/10 experience, wouldn't recommend. My hotel was the only place without them, so my solution was to just stop drinking anything outside to avoid having to use them. lol

[Jewelmyth]

It feels comfortable to me because I'm used to it, and you're right, you're not used to it.

[bananathunder]

where were you staying?

[Kvass]

@bananathunder Iran

[Jewelmyth]

This situation is common in Muslim countries

[bananathunder]

makes sense. I've never seen them in the US. The worst toilets here are port-a-pottys and I consider those gross lol

[bananathunder]

I bet a lot of people accidentally shit/piss on their shoes lol

[Jewelmyth]

@bananathunder 🤣🤣I wear toilet slippers at home, yes, sometimes I need to pee 🤣 Sir, today was a gloomy day for me and you made me laugh.

[bananathunder]

LOL well I'm glad I could help :P

[Jewelmyth]

@bananathunder You're probably bald, right? I didn't know bald men could be so funny.

[bananathunder]

no I'm not lol

[nastyb]

you don't like it because you're not used to it. but it's better for your colon to poop this way. it straightens the colon when you poop ensuring a better clean out for the colon

[bananathunder]

@nastyb good to know lol

[NoDecision]

I think things could get messy, especially if you were to have explosive diarrhea.

[Jewelmyth]

I agree completely, the toilet is a mess when I have diarrhea.

[SamIam96]

I can't imagine squat toilets catching on in the US. People sit on the toilet for ten, twenty even thirty minutes or more scrolling on their phones while doing their business. These are the same people that complain about hygiene. They probably don't wash their hands either.

[SamIam96]

How does someone who's wearing pants use one? Do you have to remove them?

[front2back]

There are benefits from a health perspective, but whoever came up with squat toilets being more hygienic has never experienced how people in said countries with them use them, they MISS, and they miss QUITE A LOT.

Western toilet adoption is becoming bigger, in East Asia specifically (China, Japan, etc.) it is actually a selling point for an apartment or home if it has Western toilets. They are simply more comfortable to use especially if you have to take a bad dump.

[FunkyMonkee]

What happens if you have leg issues and CAN'T squat, anymore?

[Jewelmyth]

Then I'll start using a Western-style toilet, of course this isn't common in every country, not even in mine, but it's very common in my city, so there's a Western-style toilet in the bathroom, there's a separate area for the traditional Turkish toilet.

[FunkyMonkee]

What if you're in a place that only has squatters?

[Agape93]

Because they're uncomfortable and I dont want to stand in someone's piss or shit if they missed the bowl.

[strateguy632]

doctors? probably doctors in 3rd world places. but seriously europeans care about hygiene so if it was good -they want hygiene -but this and circumcision have no real benefits in health hygiene.

[Jewelmyth]

I don't know if the foreskin is medically harmful, but I wouldn't want to lick a penis with extra skin.

[shish_kebab]

They are obviously not common because people don't want them.
But I do think those sprayers are way more hygienic than toilet paper.

[stevenkelly]

Mostly because toilet habits are shaped by culture, infrastructure, and accessibility, not just hygiene.

[purplepoppy]

They are available in certain parts of the UK. The main reason we sit is because thats what we've done for centuries.

[Paige2006]

Aren't they common in Europe? I guess the less contact you have with a toilet the less germs/bacteria you will get. Also, the position is better for peeing or pooping.

[Jersey2]

Those toilets suck. That is old school 2nd and 3rd world toilets. No thanks.

[Grond21]

I have never seen or used a squat toilet in the Americas or Europe

[PixieFairyBtch]

I’ve only ever used these like twice in my life lol the experience using it was kinda weird 😭😂

[Anonymous]

How is that Comfortable doing half leg squats peeing on the floor into a drain that you guys call a Squat toilet? Lol Do you even go number 2 on the squat toilet? That doesn’t look comfortable at all and it’s weird.

[Jewelmyth]

Yes, it's not comfortable, but I prefer it.

[Opinion Owner]

I hope you have good strong legs to do that. I’ve never heard of that before going number 2 and squatting without actually sitting on the toilet. Lol

[Jewelmyth]

This type of Turkish-style toilet, common in Muslim countries, also requires you to squat down when you do squats, so these toilets are like a sport, developing your legs.

[Opinion Owner]

Ok lol I hope you have a good endurance because going to the bathroom sometimes takes a while not just two minutes

[Jewelmyth]

I don't even stay in the toilet for a minute, but of course you're not used to it. If I only used the Western-style toilet, the squat toilet would seem strange and frightening to me. 😅

[Opinion Owner]

I’m not talking about just to go pee, what if you have to go number 2? That what American say instead of saying poop.

[Jewelmyth]

When I poop, it takes me a maximum of 2 minutes, so I'm quick at defecating. I wish they had toilets like this abroad; I don't like sitting on the toilet, it disgusts me.

[Opinion Owner]

Well, you can always squad in America in somebody’s backyard and poop in the grass and then wipe yourself with toilet paper and just dig a little tiny hole and cover it up with grass and dirt and you’ll be fine. 😂

[KostasKouvalis]

That's what I always wonder. As a man, pissing in them isn't an issue, but I have no clue how to use them for shitting

[gasman70]

more work, and people are inherently lazy, so most would rather face possible germs and sit then squat and have less possibility of germs.

[KostasKouvalis]

Because we don't know how to 💩 in them.

[KostasKouvalis]

I mean, the actual shitting isn't a problem, but how do I flush it?

[Jewelmyth]

They have taps on the side, and some squat toilets have flush mechanisms.

[KostasKouvalis]

Still. That's nasty

[Anonymous]

Why is this such a concern?

[Jewelmyth]

🤣🤣🤣 You know, when I see a toilet in a shopping mall or anywhere else, I react the same way you do.

[_Jenny_]

@Jewelmyth I never saw a toilet like that

[duntoldya]

cause I dont' want to shit on the floor.