I never even thought of asking my parents about my potty training. Talking about body functions like that was strictly taboo. I don't remember my own potty training . However, I am the oldest of three ; my younger siblings are three and four years younger than me so I remember some bit and pieces.  My parents as well as the nuns in Catholic school were very strict . Basic potty training aside, I clearly remember that we were expected to be able to control ourselves. Any sign of desperation  or much worse an accident was  strictly forbidden, leading to punishment. We were told we were weak and babyish. I do recall holding myself in front of them because, I had to go very badly and was reprimanded in front of everyone.  Asking to be excused in school was beyond embarrassing.  We were given the third degree, told to grow up and asked why it was so urgent, in front of the class. It was impossible to get past the principal's office on the way to the restroom from most classes, where students were subject to another blistering interrogation. So I never once asked to go. I did quietly hold myself and squirm under my desk sometimes, if I was really desperate. I never wet in school itself. As a result I was afraid to admit I needed to pee to anyone, even if  outside of home or school my pee dancing, holding myself made it obvious. The ironic thing is occasionally I couldn't hold it any longer and I actually wet my pants, the very thing that was to be avoided. I got called on it by friends a couple times, even though it was mostly my briefs that got soaked, little was noticeable in my pants themselves. What was noticeable, I had been increasingly frantic and suddenly stopped struggling altogether. These accidents were through my early teens, except one bigger incident when I was 18. That time being able to hold more pee longer losing control meant my outer pants were noticeably wet. I was able to hide my wettings or my pants dried and my parents never found out. A video I saw recently on Youtube  an expert said this type of childhood have lead to a pee fetish.

Reading it again, of course you are right. It doesn't preclude the provision of a 'universal toilet' either on its own or with separate facilities. It just doesn't like communal / gender-neutral toilets. I should be more careful. Thanks for the clarity 🙂 

I didn't quite read it the way the headline implies - seems that the move is around 'communal' toilets, where men, ladies, children would all share a common hand washing area and would pee etc just the other side of a thin door.   And the media is quite focussed on abuses that could occur in such situations. It seems that the answer is quite open to being a 'universal toilet', a self contained room with toilet, sink and maybe baby changing facilities which anyone can use.  In a sense they are single sex (unless two or more people enter willingly together) and at the same time they are neutral.   And where space issues exist, then traditional separate 'mens' and 'ladies' facilities.

Younger generations probly don’t mind. I just think public buildings need way more Parent-Child-toilets/breastfeeding facilities. I think more gender-neutral toilets are inevitable really.