Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

M&S changing rooms

492 replies

SweetChilliGirl · 20/04/2025 10:43

Was I unreasonable to send this to M&S?

Good morning,

Having not shopped for lingerie with you for several years, due to your policy of allowing trans-identifying men into the women's changing rooms, can I now be assured that, in line with the judgement of the supreme court males will no longer be allowed to identify their way into your single sex changing rooms, thus preserving biological women's dignity and safety? I would very much like to be able to shop with you again.

I look forward to hearing from to to clarify this important matter.

Regards,

Sweetchilligirl

OP posts:
Thread gallery
6
SaveMeFromHumanity · 20/04/2025 11:32

I think this what a lot of people have misunderstood about the ruling.

If an organisation still wants to include women and TIMs in the same space, they I'll be allowed to. They just won't be able to label/advertise it as a female space.

That way, women won't be lied to and TW won't be able to access female/women's spaces. And women will have the right to challenge if a male person is in a female space without being the one who is told to leave.

If someone wants to offer a unisex space, it'll have to be compliant with the law.

Didimum · 20/04/2025 11:26

ChompinCrocodiles · 20/04/2025 11:24

No, they cannot allow males to access changing rooms marked as female.

That's kind of the whole point. And it's brilliant 😁

Show quote history

This is for employees - not for customers. They do not have to provide single sex changing for customers. They can declare it unisex.

Theunamedcat · 20/04/2025 11:25

BlueMum16 · 20/04/2025 11:17

M&S changing rooms I have been in have a locked door.

I really can't see the issue who is in the next one too me 🤷‍♂️

Mine has curtains that don't "quite" close

TheCurious0range · 20/04/2025 11:24

Our local one has fitting rooms by the lingerie and by the menswear, I was waiting to go into the lingerie one last week and a man came over to queue the staff member said sir the men's fitting room is over there the other side of the menswear near the café. I was quite pleased.

ETA both are just labelled.fitting room not men's/women's

Didimum · 20/04/2025 11:24

Theeyeballsinthesky · 20/04/2025 11:19

You are completely wrong. The equality act applies to shops and businesses

www.equalityhumanrights.com/guidance/business/guidance-businesses

Show quote history

M&S can absolutely declare their fitting rooms as uninsex – it’s completely lawful and they do not have to provide single sex spaces.

ChompinCrocodiles · 20/04/2025 11:24

Didimum · 20/04/2025 11:21

I’m saying that they can allow a transwoman into the ladies changing room because it is not unlawful for them to set their own rules for access.

Show quote history

No, they cannot allow males to access changing rooms marked as female.

That's kind of the whole point. And it's brilliant 😁

ToBeOrNotToBee · 20/04/2025 11:24

Didimum · 20/04/2025 11:21

I’m saying that they can allow a transwoman into the ladies changing room because it is not unlawful for them to set their own rules for access.

Show quote history

They can set their own rules, within the law.

Theeyeballsinthesky · 20/04/2025 11:21

Shatteredallthetimelately · 20/04/2025 11:20

I didn't know this, but then again I never took the time to seek it out as it wasn't something I'd think about, but if that's the case I wonder why so many stores either went with it or as in the case with our local larger clothing store done away with the men's changing rooms all together.

Show quote history

It’s not true as evidenced above

Didimum · 20/04/2025 11:21

ToBeOrNotToBee · 20/04/2025 11:17

Not quite.
Private businesses are not allowed to discriminate. See Gay Cake.

Show quote history

I’m saying that they can allow a transwoman into the ladies changing room because it is not unlawful for them to set their own rules for access.

Ddakji · 20/04/2025 11:20

BlueMum16 · 20/04/2025 11:17

M&S changing rooms I have been in have a locked door.

I really can't see the issue who is in the next one too me 🤷‍♂️

Luckily you don’t get to give away the rights of other women and girls because you’re fine with a mixed sex space.

Shatteredallthetimelately · 20/04/2025 11:20

Didimum · 20/04/2025 11:15

Changing facilities in privately owned businesses aren’t subject to law, OP. M&S can dictate exactly who is allowed in them and it’s their choice.

I didn't know this, but then again I never took the time to seek it out as it wasn't something I'd think about, but if that's the case I wonder why so many stores either went with it or as in the case with our local larger clothing store done away with the men's changing rooms all together.

Ddakji · 20/04/2025 11:19

In our local M&S there aren’t men’s and women’s - that’s the problem. The one in the lingerie section just says Fitting Room. So I’m not sure thinking works, if that’s the case across their stores. Better to ask if they will restore fitting rooms signed Male and Female?

Theeyeballsinthesky · 20/04/2025 11:19

Didimum · 20/04/2025 11:15

Changing facilities in privately owned businesses aren’t subject to law, OP. M&S can dictate exactly who is allowed in them and it’s their choice.

You are completely wrong. The equality act applies to shops and businesses

www.equalityhumanrights.com/guidance/business/guidance-businesses

ToBeOrNotToBee · 20/04/2025 11:17

Didimum · 20/04/2025 11:15

Changing facilities in privately owned businesses aren’t subject to law, OP. M&S can dictate exactly who is allowed in them and it’s their choice.

Not quite.
Private businesses are not allowed to discriminate. See Gay Cake.

BlueMum16 · 20/04/2025 11:17

M&S changing rooms I have been in have a locked door.

I really can't see the issue who is in the next one too me 🤷‍♂️

Didimum · 20/04/2025 11:15

Changing facilities in privately owned businesses aren’t subject to law, OP. M&S can dictate exactly who is allowed in them and it’s their choice.

clarabenton · 20/04/2025 11:12

YANBU and I look forward to their reply which will hopefully clarify that they plan to abide by the law and provide single sex spaces for women again.