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Changing Room Silliness In A Primark Store

61 replies

SunsetBeetch · 17/07/2019 21:06

This twitter thread makes me want to tear my hair out. Wtf?! I hope the tweeter gets some answers.

twitter.com/claireOT/status/1151574652231311362?s=19

I just had a fascinating conversation @Primark. The assistant at the entrance to the female changing room was a man. I said to him: “this seems unusual, is it considered ok to place a male (customer assistant) in this role?”

He responded “sure. All our changing rooms are now unisex, and male and female assistants are available everywhere”
Is this correct, @Primark?

I checked “are you saying that men can choose to enter this changing room, where teenaged girls are trying on clothes?”
He replied “no, not if they want to try on ‘men’s clothes’” @Primark

I asked “so if they want to try on an item from the women’s department, they can enter the changing rooms, where teenaged girls are in a state of undress?” @primark

“Yes” he replied. “If they want to wear women’s clothes, they can come in. Not if they’re the husbands or boyfriends or Dads of girls that are changing. And not, you know, getting dressed up for a Stag Do” @Primark

“So staff are left to decide which men are bringing clothes into here because they want to be with their daughters, or because it’s funny, and stop them. But men that are not related, and bringing clothes in, and it’s not funny, they’re allowed?” @primark

“So staff are expected to examine the internal motivation of a man, when he attempts to enter here, and let some through, and refuse others? This seems like a silly and dangerous rule, to me” @Primark

I asked “Do @Primark know how much business they will lose, when women realise that their daughters cannot be kept safe in these changing rooms, and stop them from shopping here?” I’d love to know the answer to this question

OP posts:
Cuntysnark · 17/07/2019 21:54

Jacky what would we be without you.

JackyHolyoake · 17/07/2019 21:51

It seems that @Primark and @UKGap may have rendered themselves open to litigation on the grounds of sex discrimination by willfully removing previously sex-segregated spaces.

Are @Primark and @UKGap even aware of UK law?

JackyHolyoake · 17/07/2019 21:46

And so, it seems that @UKGap is also acting in breach of UK Equality Act 2010.

@UKGap lawyers: check UK Equality Act 2010 in full, especially Schedule 3, sections 26, 27 and 28 plus their associated Explanatory Notes:

www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2010/15/schedule/3

Relevant Explanatory Notes:

www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2010/15/notes/division/3/16/20/7

Para 738 "These exceptions would allow separate male and female changing rooms to be provided in a department store"

lakeswimmer · 17/07/2019 21:41

Well the last time I used an unisex changing room a man opened the curtain on me.

Yep, this happened to me in Gap - there isn't always an attendant there.

JackyHolyoake · 17/07/2019 21:34

It seems @Primark lawyers needs to study the UK Equality Act in full, especially Schedule 3, sections 26, 27 ans 28 plus their associated Explanatory Notes, since @Primark is acting in breach of UK Equaltiy Act 2010:

www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2010/15/schedule/3

Relevant Explanatory Notes:

www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2010/15/notes/division/3/16/20/7

Para 738 "These exceptions would allow separate male and female changing rooms to be provided in a department store;"

Ladyfat · 17/07/2019 21:23

...and are we also going to ignore that most changing rooms are badly designed with doors and curtains with cracks at the side, at the best of time. Without a male with a camera/mirror/raging erection next door.

Ladyfat · 17/07/2019 21:21

I’m not sure teens can “take care of themselves” Pipandmum especially in the current climate where they are likely to get “bigot” or “terf” shouted at them if they question why a 40 year person led with stubble is asking them to help him zip them up.

When men stop raping and murdering women and girls we’ll stop seeing them as potential harm.

dolorsit · 17/07/2019 21:20

Well the last time I used an unisex changing room a man opened the curtain on me.

The poor dear failed to spot the two empty cubicles with the curtains pulled back which he had walked past to get to mine.

OdeToDiazepam · 17/07/2019 21:19

Men could place cameras, take pictures, assault women, they're not always attended

PerrysWinkle · 17/07/2019 21:18

it’s not most peoples default thought that man equals harm.

No but it is peoples default thought that they can change clothes in single sex spaces. Otherwise why do we have segregated changing rooms at gym, pools, schools etc?

Pipandmum · 17/07/2019 21:13

I’ve been to several shops with unisex changing rooms. You change in a cubicle with a door or curtain. There’s a staff member at the entrance. What do you think is going to happen? If a young child was going in a parent would go in too. If a teen was going in they can take care of themselves. If there was someone causing problems there’s a staff member there to deal with it. I doubt they’re going to lose business as it’s not most peoples default thought that man equals harm.