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Original poster

Glasgow M&S Changing room debacle

85 replies

Lordfrontpaw · 13/03/2020 14:37

Now I can't quite get my head around this. I must be missing something. Please note this was two men, no claims of them being anything other than two men.

So - 2 men wanted to use the changing room in the ladies clothes section because (just the) one was trying on trousers.

A member of the M&S team then told him: “I can’t stop you from using it,”

One was told by a member of the public that it was for women only to “try on bras”

While in the changing room, they heard the member of the public say, “I wouldn’t want to get my t**s out in front of other men.

It is then claimed the M&S staff member laugh and agreed before saying, “we have to allow it because of all this new stuff."

The couple complained to a manager instore who told them that she would reiterate to staff that fitting rooms were unisex. They also complained in writing to the store and are now looking to escalate their complaint further. (of course they are)

The men said that while they don't identify as women, if they had, then the negative comments they heard from women could have driven them to suicide

One said “I could have been a non-binary or trans person, they don’t know that.”

M&S apologise

www.glasgowtimes.co.uk/news/18302422.amp/

OP posts:
fascinated · 13/03/2020 17:55

Nyaffs is absolutely right.

Original poster
Lordfrontpaw · 13/03/2020 17:55

I used to frequent gay clubs in Glasgow in my teens - no men in the ladies, even the transvestites didn’t try.

OP posts:
koshkatt · 13/03/2020 17:48

It is misogyny pure and simple. Gay men can be vile misogynists too.

Rainbowbabymummy · 13/03/2020 17:38

Coming from Glasgow and having many gay friends, for some reason there seems to be an unwritten rule that gay men can get away with things like this just because theyre gay. It used to be the same whenever I went to clubs with my friends men would use the bathroom and say but in gay so it doesnt count. Doesn't make any sense to me tbh

Original poster
Lordfrontpaw · 13/03/2020 17:38

Shame there wasn’t a photo. I always love the sad horse faces, usually with the person mournfully holding up the offending item...

OP posts:
terryleather · 13/03/2020 17:34

If you let men with special identities into the women's changing rooms then it's surely discriminatory to the men who don't have special identities not to let them in as well - these bawbags have a point and it's what you end up with under stupid genderist "logic"

Now the men have their own changing room, plus the women's if they want it - for whatever reason - and the women have nothing of their own.

As mentioned upthread it's about time all these shops and services were made to be honest and take the male and female signs down and put mixed sex ones up instead, but they're snide and dishonest into the bargain.

This is why any and all males no matter how they identify should gtfo of women's spaces, no exceptions.

It's a power grab and this pair are only taking advantage of a situation that's been handed to them on a plate.

MrsDoylesTeaBags · 13/03/2020 17:33

He added: “I am saddened to know that big retail company are employing people with those views.

Wanker

Languishingfemale · 13/03/2020 17:28

It's always the poor staff who these dreary people target. Low paid, often female, then facing disciplinary advice from some misogynistic manager.

Original poster
Lordfrontpaw · 13/03/2020 17:20

I really don’t want to be in a changing room with men - especially young (I assume) melodramatic attention seekers, making a meal of a fuss, and I can imagine getting into a barney with the women in the Changing room (hey I’m Glaswegian so can imagine how this went down).

OP posts:
Languishingfemale · 13/03/2020 17:16

At one time I would have seen M& S as an ethical business who would admit they they failed to consult any women about this and reverse the decision. At on time I would have put money on the fact that M & S would want to protect teenagers and women from all the fetishists and upskirters and peeping toms and secret filmers. At one time.
Now I just watch in dismay as M & S management do the very things that make women and girls lives a bit less safe - invite those very predatory men in to their changing rooms where women and girls used to have bra fittings. And of course disguise this by failing to label their changing rooms mixed sex so women can make informed choices.

It's a vile company.

ItsAllGoingToBeFine · 13/03/2020 17:15

It sounds to me as if possibly these two men were hoping to be challenged.

Original poster
Lordfrontpaw · 13/03/2020 16:59

Maybe M&S will be giving wine, flowers, chocolate, vouchers, grovelling apologies and a parade for all those women (and staff) who were upset by the wee nyaffs in the changing room causing a commotion?

OP posts:
scrappydappydoo · 13/03/2020 16:43

And what about the women who have been traumatised by past abuse having to change with men in a ‘unisex’ changing room? Could it not be argued that that experience could possibly drive them to suicide?
(Sorry to resort to ‘what aboutery’)
And why does it take two men to try on one pair of trousers Hmm

Original poster
Lordfrontpaw · 13/03/2020 16:34

M&S just haven’t thought it out have they. This was a mixed sex room because these were men who never claimed to be anything else/nothing.

OP posts:
HarrietThePi · 13/03/2020 16:29

"The fitting rooms are located within our womenswear and menswear departments and therefore are mainly used by customers of that gender, however, as an inclusive retailer and in line with most other retailers, we allow customers the choice of fitting room in respect of how they identify themselves.”

But these men did not identify as anything other than men. M&S don't seem to know whether the changing rooms are unisex or whether they're split by gender identity (which makes them unisex in my world, but not in the world of gender identity).

Beamur · 13/03/2020 16:11

Come on M&S, think a bit harder. Your best customers are the ones you are pissing off with this.
Unisex changing is a shit idea!

73Sunglasslover · 13/03/2020 16:06

Despite the level of physical and sexual violence perpetrated towards women by men, some men seem to find it hard to hear how unsafe women feel when they are in more vulnerable situations around men (e.g. not fully clothed). Given that men still hold disproportionate power in our society, this is a problem.

LittleCabbage · 13/03/2020 16:04

Ah, good to know that I am still doing the right thing by boycotting M&S Grin

Langsdestiny · 13/03/2020 16:02

I will weep the same amount of tears at the demise of M &S as I have over the end of the victoria derbyshire show.

Original poster
Lordfrontpaw · 13/03/2020 15:58

I can’t imagine any of the women who were present going back there and they won’t exactly keep it to themselves!

OP posts:
HorseWithNoLang · 13/03/2020 15:53

Are the changing rooms clearly marked as mixed-sex instore with signs for all to see?

Anyone? I can't imagine they'd be daft enough to do that.

Qcng · 13/03/2020 15:34

Haa it's entirely ridiculous.
M&S have brought it on themselves by making all the changing rooms unisex. What a stupid decision.

NotAGirl · 13/03/2020 15:26

Weaponising suicide now where have we seen that before Hmm

SonicVersusGynaephobia · 13/03/2020 15:13

Well done guys, you managed to force your way into the women's bra changing rooms for absolutely no reason, making the women who were in there legitimately feel uncomfortable, and no doubt getting a female shop assistant into trouble.

Dicks.

koshkatt · 13/03/2020 15:08

typo sorry disciplined