WC

The first sanitary facilities were surely installed in the United States. The first law requiring separate toilets for men and women was introduced in Massachusetts in 1887. This regulation was a response to the growing demand for adequate sanitary conditions for women working in factories and offices.

Although a specific “first women’s toilet” cannot be identified in the Basque Country, factories began to implement separate toilets for women during this period. The facilities were rudimentary and often located outdoors or in areas adjacent to buildings. The establishment of these baths reflected an important cultural shift because the need to protect the privacy and safety of female workers was recognized. Still, many factories still lacked adequate facilities, which limited the hiring of women. Over time, the demand for better conditions led to greater standardization and improvement of sanitary facilities for women in the workplace. During the World Wars, when women entered industrial work in large numbers, the need for adequate toilets became even more apparent, although many employers still considered these investments unnecessary. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the Industrial Revolution led to an increase in the participation of women in industrial work. This generated a growing demand for adequate sanitary facilities, as women faced poor hygiene and safety conditions in the workplace. In 1997, Royal Decree 486/1997 established that toilets in the workplace had to be separate for men and women, which formalized the need for individual facilities in all factories and workplaces. This regulation was implemented to guarantee minimum conditions of privacy and safety for female workers.