Bathroom Stalls in the U.S.: The Great Privacy Gap

Much to the horror of my international friends, American public restrooms are infamous for their wildly un-private stall design. You’ve got gaps on the sides where you can make accidental eye contact, a foot of space at the bottom so you can spot your neighbor’s shoes, and zero effort toward creating a sense of dignity. Total privacy? That’s a cute idea we’ve clearly decided to skip.

As someone who grew up in the U.S., I’m used to it. I’ve made peace with the gaps. But even I was caught off guard by a restroom at a highway rest stop in Arizona.

I didn’t even need to go inside the stall to notice it. Walking up, it was obvious: the door was so short, you could see over it. Not if you’re sitting, of course—but if you’re standing inside the stall? You and the person washing their hands could easily make eye contact and have a full-blown conversation. No need to text your travel buddy—you can just shout stall-to-sink.

To be fair, I get why these designs exist. They’re cheaper, easier to clean, and supposedly help prevent shady behavior. But as someone who’s used public restrooms around the world—where stalls are fully enclosed and privacy is treated like a basic human right—it’s still baffling that this is the norm here.

So if you’re traveling to the U.S. for the first time, prepare yourself. Our bathrooms might be stocked with toilet paper, but they’re running dangerously low on modesty.