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The urinals, in the shape of a mouth, were criticised for being offensive to women.
A recently opened Sydney restaurant will kiss its lip-shaped urinals goodbye after feminists accused the restaurant of misogyny.
Ananas Bar and Brasserie in Sydney issued an apology to anyone the "commonly used European design piece" offended and agreed to remove them.
"We sincerely apologize if they have caused offense. They are being removed today," a spokeswoman for the three week old restaurant said.
Female Dutch artist Meike van Schijnde of Bathroom Mania designed the "Kisses" urinals, which somewhat resemble the Rolling Stones' "Tongue and Lip Design."
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The urinals caught the public's attention when restaurant critic Terry Durack mentioned them in his review of Ananas.
A spokeswoman from the interior design company that chose the urinals called them "playful," reported The Sydney Morning Herald. But not everyone shares her notion of good humor.
Australian feminist Anne Summers considers the urinals a symptom of a sexist society.
"Misogyny is very widespread, and this is just an example of misogyny," Summers said. "The concept is pretty challenging and confronting. They're asking men to put their d---s in these mouths as urinals."
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Another feminist Meredith Burgmann does not find the urinals surprising considering what she considers a recent "outpouring of misogynist incidents," according to The Telegraph.
The woman behind the urinals, however, does not think her work conveys any hatred of women.
When controversy arose around her urinals close to a decade ago, van Schijnde said that people need to lighten up.
"[It's] just a cartoonish looking mouth," she said. "There are worse things in the world to get all worked up about."
Australian debates about sexism extend from the bathroom at Ananas to the highest posts in government.
In the pit of Australia's Parliament, Prime Minister Julia Gillard accused Tony Abbott, the Leader of the Opposition, of being a misogynist on Tuesday, reported CNN.
"If he wants to know what misogyny looks like in modern Australia, he doesn't need a motion in the House of Representatives. He needs a mirror," Gillard argued.
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/NydnRss/~3/UPy3IMnLAFE/story01.htm
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