In a surprising twist, the push for widespread bidet adoption in the United States is being led by a young, trailblazing New York City mayor – and it could have ripple effects across the pond. Mona Eltahawy, an Egyptian-American writer, explores how Zohran Mamdani and his wife Rama Duwaji are challenging bathroom norms and making “clean asses cool” on both sides of the Atlantic.
Eltahawy recounts her own cultural shock when moving from Egypt to the UK as a child, horrified to find that toilets lacked the ubiquitous bidet or “shattaf” fixtures she was accustomed to. While bidets and their variants are commonplace in many parts of the world, the US has long resisted the trend, with Eltahawy lamenting the “stubbornly shattaf-free” nature of American bathrooms.
However, the tide may be turning thanks to Mamdani and Duwaji’s high-profile embrace of the bidet. As the youngest mayor in New York City’s history, Mamdani’s trailblazing tenure has already made waves. Now, the 34-year-old mayor of Indian descent and his 28-year-old Syrian-American artist wife are set to bring bidets to the official mayoral residence of Gracie Mansion.
Eltahawy celebrates this development, declaring “Zohran and Rama are going to make bidets cool! Finally!” She argues that the ability to properly clean oneself after using the toilet is a universal human necessity, not just an “Islamist” or “soy boy” affectation as Mamdani’s critics may claim.
The writer’s own experiences highlight the cultural divides surrounding this issue. Growing up, Eltahawy and her family adapted to life in the UK by keeping a watering can by the toilet, a “poor substitute” for the efficient shattaf they were accustomed to. Now, as she visits her sister’s California home, which features bidets in every bathroom, Eltahawy is hopeful that the tide is turning.
Whether you call it a bidet, shattaf, or “bum gun,” Eltahawy is unequivocal in her message: install one now and thank her later. With Mamdani and Duwaji leading the charge, the writer believes the future of clean, comfortable bathroom habits is within reach – on both sides of the Atlantic.
