Theory 2: The “Sprayer Stigma” During World War II
Before World War II, American soldiers found the French bidets strange. Their only experience with a “bidet” was seeing French soldiers use them in brothels.
Because of this, many people argue that Americans developed a prejudice against the sprayer, associating it with “immoral” values.
Theory 3: The Way the Sprayer Is Used
This seems to be the most reasonable theory. As mentioned earlier, the original “bidet” was just a water basin, meaning the user had to scoop water and wash with their hands.
Even after the sprayer was introduced, Americans still stigmatized it.
Clearly, compared to toilet paper, the bidet was seen as a much worse option. And Americans rejected using the bidet, even when it was later replaced with a sprayer.
This stigma persists to this day, with most restrooms in the U.S. lacking a sprayer. For Americans, toilet paper remains the absolute, irreplaceable choice.
