المرحاض مدخلا لدراسة التهميش في الفضاء العام: دراسة سوسيو-أنتروبولوجية في مدينة تونس

This research project aims to conduct a sociological study of public restrooms in the city of Tunis to explore how social power dynamics are exercised and to uncover instances of social injustice and inequality in public spaces. In Arab and Islamic public spaces, restrooms are often marginalized as social spaces despite their practical and functional significance. Preliminary observations in Tunis reveal that restrooms are particularly neglected or marginalized in economically disadvantaged areas. Although regulations mandate the presence of restrooms in public places, this is not always implemented. For example, some restaurants keep their restrooms permanently closed, citing excuses such as "out of order" or "under maintenance." In other cases, patrons are redirected to neighboring establishments to fulfill their needs. In higher-income areas, while restrooms may be accessible, they often remain subject to control through practices such as spatial segregation, restrictive access, or physical distance, reflecting ongoing power dynamics.
The restroom holds a special importance in understanding and revealing societal power relations. It exposes divisions within society, such as discrimination between individuals and groups, the stereotyping of social roles, and the reinforcement of power structures and the absence of social justice.
The researcher will employ a qualitative methodology to examine forms of exchange and communication within society and how power is exercised through restrooms in diverse public venues, including restaurants, cafes, bars, and official institutions like schools, municipal offices, police stations, and even the parliament building (where access is possible). Ethnographic methods will include participation in the use of restrooms and conducting spontaneous interviews during fieldwork, complemented by in-depth interviews when necessary.
The unique characteristics of restrooms in public spaces make them an ideal subject for studying societal exchange and communication, revealing how power relations are enacted by some and marginalization is imposed on others, excluding certain individuals from public spaces and society over time. In popular culture, the restroom is often regarded as a "polluted" space, socially and culturally associated with taboo actions, such as urination and bodily functions, that society prefers to ignore.