The Mystery of Missing Toilet Seats in France: Sanitary Shortage or Cultural Norm?

I came back from a trip to France and my wife continually remarked that most public bathrooms at restaurants, gas stations, beach and other venue locations, do not have toilet seats.  Even the toilets at Paris Orly Airport did not have toilet seats in the domestic terminal.  This annoyed her greatly.  As a good husband, I tried to figure this out.  I am at a loss for the rationale. 

That being said, the most consistent response was that cleaning a toilet is easier if there is no toilet seat.  This leads me to believe that there are not enough cleaning people to address the sanitary conditions of bathrooms in France. 

 Here are the other top rationales for lack of toilet seats in France:

 ·        Distrust – Some say that French people are distrustful of each other and never sit on toilet seats in public or private restrooms. This can lead to a situation where most toilet seats are soiled, or there are no toilet seats at all. 

·        Cold porcelain – Some say that the porcelain in women's toilets in French autoroute services is very cold. 

·        Lack of replacement seats – Some toilet owners may decide to remove the seat because they can't find a replacement, or they decide it's not worth the effort. 

·        To encourage using the toilet at home – Some say that the lack of toilet seats in public places is a way to encourage people to use the toilet at home. 

·        Minimalist design aesthetic – Many French people prefer a more minimalist, streamlined look in public restrooms, which can be achieved by having toilet fixtures without bulky attached seats.

·        Hygiene perceptions – Some French people perceive toilet seats as less hygienic, as they can harbor more germs and bacteria compared to the porcelain fixture itself. Removing the seat is seen as a way to promote cleanliness.

·        Cultural norms – The lack of toilet seats in public restrooms is simply a longstanding cultural norm in France. Many French people are accustomed to this and do not expect or demand the presence of toilet seats.

I find these explanations to be not the cause but rather just an attempt to justify why there are no toilet seats in public bathrooms.  If they were true then there would be none in homes but in fact, most homes do have toilet seats.  So I am thinking that it is because they do not have the people to keep these bathrooms sanitary. 

Let me know your thoughts