During an event earlier this summer inside the Vatican's synod hall, I noticed that the restrooms just off of the main exit included eight stalls for men and two for women.   In a church dominated by an all-male hierarchy, this makes sense. When the new synod hall was inaugurated in 1971, it was likely inconceivable that a venue designed for semi-annual meetings of Catholic bishops from around the world would need to accommodate the needs of women, except perhaps a translator or two.  That's why when Pope Francis extended the participation of the synod to include lay members — with a right to vote on the synod's final document — it seemed likely that the venue for the gathering would likely change, as was announced on July 7, along with names of more than 400 participants that will take part in one of the most closely watched events in the life of the church since the Second Vatican Council.

https://www.ncronline.org/vatican/view-vatican/synod-will-meet-different-vatican-hall-could-be-groundbreaking

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