Shanghai Shorts: Squat Pots and Sexy Legs

Anyone who has ever visited Shanghai (or, frankly, any city in China or Southeast Asia) has likely come across what we as English-speakers have affectionately termed "squat pots." These are toilets which are essentially a porcelain-lined hole in the ground, over which you squat and do your business.

Westerners often call them archaic, obsolete, outdated, dirty, and, well, let's face it, a bit physically taxing. Squat pots are generally uncomfortable as you don't get to rest your body down on anything solid, and instead must remain in a squatting position for however long it takes for you to do what you gotta do. On top of that, you're probably worried about the Splatter Effect.

The Chinese, on the other hand, refer to them as clean and efficient. The reason? Well, it does make sense: your butt doesn't actually come into contact with what other people's butts have touched.

The truth is that while Westerners would argue that a proper toilet seat and bowl are "advanced" versions of toilets and generally preferable to squat pots (I myself wander through various Chinese public bathrooms until I find a toilet with a seat), many Chinese argue the opposite.

It is not rare for a Chinese woman to approach a "Western" toilet and stand up on the toilet seat and do what? Squat like they would over a squat pot.

While most modern facilities and buildings do provide the seated toilets rather than the squat pots (because quite frankly the increased Splatter Effect of a squat pot does give also increase a bathroom's the Odor Factor), this doesn't quite change how the toilets are used once the doors are closed.

It's a changing, evolving habit, to be sure. I'm not saying ALL Shanghainese women stand up onto a toilet seat to pee, but a good portion of them do it enough that, well, it makes a good story.

Plus I guess if you have to remain in a squatting position for however long it takes to pinch out a good ol' Numero Dos, you probably come away from the experience with fantastically fit thighs.