Reductive

I was reminded today, as I waited impatiently outside the one stall bathroom at my favorite Sbux, that the signs for the men's and women's bathroom, respectively, are somewhat surprisingly uniform and unimaginative yet simultaneously manage to be symbolically accurate.  The ubiquitous "MEN" sign is nine toes for every ten a triangle which, forgive where I'm headed, is pretty phallic, especially when compared to the ubiquitous "WOMEN" sign that in similar frequency is always expressed by the same shape, a circle, which is pretty...mmmm...vessel'ish.

So, I have an array of questions, but I'd mostly like to know the basic who/when/where of the origin of these signs and if the initial intention was to make them shapes that corresponded to the sex traits for which they divide discerning public toilet patrons.  In addition, I wonder why no one somewhere has attempted to revamp these symbols.  For example, I think perhaps a parallelogram would actually be more appropriate for the Women's sign, and it would be easier to mass produce because it's always easier to cut straight lines than circles and would be a more efficient use of the plastic sheet from which each is cut. 

If I were a man, I'd almost be offended at being limited to the triangle.  It only has three edges, and it's not even like they mix up the kinds of triangles; it's always equilateral as if to suggest that when it comes to men the angles are all the same, we already know what to expect from you.  This is in no way this Blogger's opinion necessarily (I like men, a lot), but frankly, I'd feel a bit like a second rate citizen if I could be summed up in three lines whose sole purpose is to make a single pointy tip.  If I ever have reason to have public restrooms, I'm changing up the signage--big time.

Life sometimes can be reductive.
Reductive: –adjective 
  of, pertaining to, characterized by, or producing reduction or abridgment