A couple decades after the U.S. Navy started deploying women on its ships, the restroom designs of the newest aircraft carriers are reflecting the females’ presence.
The new Gerald R. Ford class of carriers – starting with the namesake carrier due in late 2015 – will not have urinals, the Naval Sea Systems Command in Washington said this week.
The decision is part of an effort to give the new carriers a more gender-neutral layout, according to the Navy Times, which first reported the story. Using only toilets, a first for U.S. carriers, will allow ship personnel to easily switch the designation of any restroom – or head, in naval parlance – from men to women and vice versa as needed, the Navy Times reported. . .