91ŃÇÉ« sociology spoke to on the importance of public washroom access in Toronto. Cavanagh praises Starbucks’s initiative to officially open their bathrooms to the public, including non-paying individuals.
“Everyone should be able to access a public bathroom in a public space,” says Cavanagh. “This is definitely a positive step forward.”
Professor Sheila Cavanagh
Starbucks’s decision to have an open washroom policy, even to non-paying customers, was a result of the arrest of two innocent black men in a Philadelphia Starbucks. The coffee chain was criticized for how their employees mishandled the situation, and the public called for a change in how the company treats people in its restaurants.
Cavanagh believes that Starbucks’s change in policy will set an example for other companies to implement an all-access policy for their bathrooms in Toronto, whether someone is a customer or not. Already, similar stores or cafes in the city will let non-paying customers use their washrooms.
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