여성 800원, 남성은 공짜…오스트리아 공중화장실 차별금지 소송

A woman from Austria, Melani Gradić, who is 27 years old, has filed a lawsuit against the city of Vienna, alleging gender discrimination and seeking damages for unequal treatment in public restroom facilities. According to AFP, Gradić argued that the condition of using public restrooms is not equal for men and women. The city has 168 public restrooms, of which 139 are free of charge and 29 charge a fee of 50 cents for those using the cubicle-style toilets. Among the 29 fee-based restrooms, 20 offer free urinals for men.

The city explains that the chargeable restrooms require more staff and resources to maintain, due to the higher likelihood of contamination from men's behavior. The Green Party, led by Gradić, has long advocated for free public restrooms for everyone. Green Party spokesperson Julia Male said, "If there are free urinals for men, there should be free restroom stalls for women."

Male disagreed with the city's argument that cleaning cubicle-style restrooms costs more money, stating that not all men take proper care when urinating. She also criticized the city's claim that women pay for the inconvenience caused by men's improper behavior, calling it "unjust." Gradić's attorney, Petra Lavanek, argued that the issue is not just comparing the urinals and cubicle toilets but rather whether men and women can equally use public restrooms.

She emphasized that if both genders can use restrooms equally, regardless of whether it is free or charged, it would be acceptable. Gradić stated that she does not care whether it is free or charged, as the issue is the inequality women face in everyday life. If the court rules in her favor, she plans to donate the compensation.