Have you ever wanted to go to the bathroom while you were away from home, but you preferred to hold back? rather than relieve you? Whether it's with your date, friends, or your in-laws, you can't manage to free your intestines . Yet we all know that colleague or friend who, whenever he feels like it, goes to the bathroom with a magazine under his arm. But, have you ever seen this scene happen with a person of the fairer sex? This is called "Princess Syndrome. or "poop-shaming ". We tell you where this shame of women to go to the toilet outside their homes comes from , and especially why, we must stop holding back!
As cute as the name of this syndrome is, unfortunately it has nothing else going for it. He reveals the fact that ‘using a toilet that is not his own , immediately becomes a source of panic to due to lack of privacy. It is due to the fact that it mainly concerns women according to an IFOP study.61% of women would not feel comfortable having a bowel movement away from home,compared to 47% of men . The Ifop study also highlights that the embarrassment is greater at the office (60%) than among friends (57%). Public restrooms are the ones that hold them back the most. They emphasize the feeling of shame women. With their reputation as dirty and unsafe places, women find it more difficult to get there.
This syndrome is explained by a whole bunch of clichés established for years around femininity. François Kraus, director of the Gender, Sexuality and Sexual Health division at Ifop underlines this in his study. "La poo shame appears as a marker of gender distinction. A woman having a bowel movement inspires disgust, whereas it is culturally tolerated for a man. It's the princess who only pees glitter syndrome ". Because of these long instilled stereotypes, many women hold back to have a bowel movement. This, duringa weekend , and even weeks . The fear of being judged takes precedence over the natural need. This is an additional pressure on the woman's behaviors associated with "perfection", "cleanliness" and "purity".
If it is important to break codes and break away from stereotypes, it is above all for health. This shame, to go to the toilet, is not without consequences. According to the study, Princess Syndrome leads to cases of constipation . It happens, you say. However, the study points out that these concerns are 41% common among women and 18% in men. These prejudices have been built up since our early childhood. From an early age, little girls are taught to hold back and not let the slightest gas escape. When a little boy farts, everyone will laugh. If a girl does it, she will be laughed at. However, this habit can disturb the intestinal system. This promotes the appearance of abdominal cramps , bloating anddigestive disorders . So we need to teach our children (and ourselves) that having a bowel movement is natural. And that for both women and men. There is no shame in that.
