https://mainichi.jp/articles/20251226/k00/00m/040/328000c

　Is it right or wrong for a mother to take her son to the women's restroom? This debate often rages on social networking sites.

　There have been reports of children being sexually assaulted in restrooms in parks and facilities.

　Some people are sympathetic to boys using the girls' restroom, saying, "I worry about making my child wait outside the restroom alone or use the boys' restroom," but others are opposed, saying, "I don't feel safe having a male, even a child, use the girls' restroom."

　During the winter break, parents and children have more opportunities to go out with their children. We spoke with experts about how to ensure safe and secure toilet use for both parents and children.

Sexual abuse of children, regardless of gender

　Please do not bring boys into the women's restroom.

　<The boys didn't join because they wanted to.>

　<Are we ignoring women's feelings of dislike?>

　On social media, there are various opinions regarding children's use of the toilet.

　Parents who bring their boys into the women's restroom fear that their children will be sexually assaulted.

　According to the report "On the Situation Regarding Sexual Abuse of Children and Young People" published by the Cabinet Office's Gender Equality Bureau in June 2023, 26.4% of young people, including children, have suffered some form of victimization.

　Although the number of male victims is only about one-third to one-half of that of female victims, depending on the nature of the abuse, it is by no means small.

　In addition, the ages at which victims first experienced sexual assault involving physical contact were as follows: preschoolers (3.6%), elementary school students (13.7%), junior high school students (20.3%), high school students (35.9%), 19- to 20-year-olds (15.8%), and 21- to 24-year-olds (10.6%).

　Furthermore, sexual assaults tend to remain hidden. According to a survey on the actual state of crime victims (hidden figures) conducted by the Ministry of Justice in January and February of last year, only 25% of people who answered that they had "been a victim" of sexual assault in the past five years reported the incident to an investigative agency.

　Public toilets are often hidden from view, making it difficult to see what is going on inside. Cases of indecent acts against children and voyeurism have been frequently reported.

　In March 2011, in Kumamoto City, a three-year-old girl who was shopping at a supermarket with her parents went to the toilet alone, where she was taken into a multi-purpose toilet by a man, who then molested her and killed her.

Mother of a boy worries: "I have no other choice"

　"I can't think of any other option than to take my son into the women's bathroom with me."

　The person with a gloomy expression is a woman in her 30s who lives in Kanagawa Prefecture.

　She lives with her husband and two children; her eldest daughter is 0 years old and her eldest son will soon be 3 years old.

　"On weekends, I often end up being the only one looking after the children."

　It would be nice to have a multi-purpose toilet when you're out and about, but it's not always easy to use.

　"If there is one, there is only one, and sometimes you have to wait so long it feels like it will never become available."

　Furthermore, there is a need for multi-purpose toilets for people other than those with children. The woman said with a sigh, "I feel hesitant to use the multi-purpose toilet because I think there are other people who need it."

　There are also many cases of sexual abuse of boys, so it's scary to leave her eyes unattended. "I think I'll take my son to the girls' bathroom with me until he's about elementary school age."

Concerns about sexual problems between children

　Meanwhile, what are the parents thinking about raising a girl?

　A woman in her 30s who is raising a two-year-old girl in Tokyo said, "I understand the feeling of not wanting your child to go to the toilet alone," before revealing her complicated feelings.

　"It's one thing for babies, but for boys old enough to use the toilet on their own, being in the girls' bathroom can make them feel a little uncomfortable."

　In recent years, there have been reports of sexual problems between children. One factor behind this is the environment in which people can access false sexual information online.

　"I fully understand that children develop at different rates, but for example, if a boy makes sexual remarks or behaves in a girl's bathroom despite the discomfort of those around him, I would like his parents to stop him immediately."