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Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

Ideas please to get a response from John Lewis to my complaint.

83 replies

Nevershoppingagaininjohnlewis · 11/04/2026 09:02

In January, I was horrified to discover at the end of a bra fitting that John Lewis now have unisex changing rooms.

I complained at the time. They took a month to reply to my complaint, and even then JLs response didn't address what I'd raised.

I escalated my complaint mid March. Still no response as of today.

Any suggestions as to what to do next?

I'm thinking a daily X/insta reminder that they haven't replied? However, when I did that for the initial complaint, I was ignored or had a "we've passed your concerns onto the store involved".

The only other think I could think of was an actual letter sent via recorded delivery.

What would you do? This has bothered me too much to let it drop.

OP posts:
Datun · 12/04/2026 11:32

AStonedRose · 11/04/2026 22:09

Because they've got unisex changing rooms, silly. it doesn't matter that most of the people who'd be out of work are women, it's their fault for having the wrong job. That's how feminism works.

Coincidentally, I went to the big John Lewis at Bluewater last weekend. It was rammed. I don't think it's going bust any time soon, though I'm sure a boycott by literally dozens of 'GC' types will put a big dent in its balance sheet.

Btw, the Supreme Court decision blatantly doesn't outlaw mixed-sex fitting rooms. From a legal standpoint this is so, so basic. Posters repeatedly 'misunderstanding' it as some kind of catch-all anti-trans law achieves precisely nothing.

Edited

No, mixed sex changing is not outlawed.

What they did say is that if you only provide mixed sex, it could be indirect discrimination towards women.

It doesnt doesn't take a genius to work out that it's absolutely discriminatory towards women and girls, especially if they're trying on underwear.

it's not women who have started a porn genre having orgasms in men's changing rooms, is it?

AStonedRose · 12/04/2026 11:31

SwirlyGates · 12/04/2026 11:27

@AStonedRose my comment did not relate to the attempt to shut down JL, but to your sentence, "Posters repeatedly 'misunderstanding' it [the Supreme Court judgement] as some kind of catch-all anti-trans law achieves precisely nothing."

The use of "anti-trans" tells us all we need to know about you. Again, do you understand nothing?

I understand perfectly. Cheers.

are you happy for people to boycott JL, potentially leading to women losing their livelihoods, because they have unisex fitting rooms?

SwirlyGates · 12/04/2026 11:27

@AStonedRose my comment did not relate to the attempt to shut down JL, but to your sentence, "Posters repeatedly 'misunderstanding' it [the Supreme Court judgement] as some kind of catch-all anti-trans law achieves precisely nothing."

The use of "anti-trans" tells us all we need to know about you. Again, do you understand nothing?

abathofmilkwithladydi · 12/04/2026 11:22

@AStonedRosequite. I like being able to pay my mortgage and feed my children.

AStonedRose · 12/04/2026 11:17

SwirlyGates · 12/04/2026 10:53

We are not "anti-trans", we are "pro-women". Do you understand nothing?

what’s pro-women about trying to shut down a business that employs mainly women?

because they have unisex changing rooms?

srsly?

HolidayPlanningAgain · 12/04/2026 11:12

I used to answer complaints and to be honest the response you would’ve received from my company would’ve be
“sorry you felt uncomfortable, but we only provide multi use changing rooms”
it is not down to a shop to pander to everyone’s preferences, plus JL isn’t the best place to go for a bra fitting you should go to a specialist lingerie shop.

SwirlyGates · 12/04/2026 10:53

AStonedRose · 11/04/2026 22:09

Because they've got unisex changing rooms, silly. it doesn't matter that most of the people who'd be out of work are women, it's their fault for having the wrong job. That's how feminism works.

Coincidentally, I went to the big John Lewis at Bluewater last weekend. It was rammed. I don't think it's going bust any time soon, though I'm sure a boycott by literally dozens of 'GC' types will put a big dent in its balance sheet.

Btw, the Supreme Court decision blatantly doesn't outlaw mixed-sex fitting rooms. From a legal standpoint this is so, so basic. Posters repeatedly 'misunderstanding' it as some kind of catch-all anti-trans law achieves precisely nothing.

Edited

We are not "anti-trans", we are "pro-women". Do you understand nothing?

Chersfrozenface · 12/04/2026 10:50

abathofmilkwithladydi · 12/04/2026 10:43

@MissGenderingthat poster is fake.

In their previous post @MissGendering said "My approach would be a poster campaign. Hold on."

So I think @MissGendering created that poster as a suggestion.

It would be a jolly good idea. It would certainly have me turning on my heel and walking out of every shop that displayed it.

abathofmilkwithladydi · 12/04/2026 10:43

@MissGenderingthat poster is fake.

MissGendering · 12/04/2026 10:28

cotswoldsgal1234 · 11/04/2026 22:23

I don’t agree with mixed changing rooms, it’s very disappointing they are doing this. And I would tell them. But I really don’t want John Lewis to close.
Lets hope they listen and take action.

I agree. JL is an important part of UK retail and I always liked its business model.

However, if they offer mixed sex changing rooms they need to make it very clear that the space is mixed sex.

Rhaidimiddim · 11/04/2026 22:52

AStonedRose · 11/04/2026 22:09

Because they've got unisex changing rooms, silly. it doesn't matter that most of the people who'd be out of work are women, it's their fault for having the wrong job. That's how feminism works.

Coincidentally, I went to the big John Lewis at Bluewater last weekend. It was rammed. I don't think it's going bust any time soon, though I'm sure a boycott by literally dozens of 'GC' types will put a big dent in its balance sheet.

Btw, the Supreme Court decision blatantly doesn't outlaw mixed-sex fitting rooms. From a legal standpoint this is so, so basic. Posters repeatedly 'misunderstanding' it as some kind of catch-all anti-trans law achieves precisely nothing.

Edited

Market forces. I've stopped shopping there.

Ariana12 · 11/04/2026 22:36

Try emailing their new top guy Jason Tarry. His email address may be [email protected] I gather this is a good way to get some attention. Also try and see if the charity Sex Matters have any contact details/ ideas?

WateringCans · 11/04/2026 22:34

I used the bra fitting service in JL for my young teen daughter today. Women and Men’s clothes are on different floors. So no men in changing room. My DD was too embarrassed to even carry the bras past the men sitting outside waiting for their wives, so I was charged with that.

we were then helped by the most lovely young woman who was so good with my daughter. JL at its best.

So glad it was a positive experience today. This stuff does really make a difference and it seems mad that we have to fight to protect such spaces.

cotswoldsgal1234 · 11/04/2026 22:23

AStonedRose · 11/04/2026 22:09

Because they've got unisex changing rooms, silly. it doesn't matter that most of the people who'd be out of work are women, it's their fault for having the wrong job. That's how feminism works.

Coincidentally, I went to the big John Lewis at Bluewater last weekend. It was rammed. I don't think it's going bust any time soon, though I'm sure a boycott by literally dozens of 'GC' types will put a big dent in its balance sheet.

Btw, the Supreme Court decision blatantly doesn't outlaw mixed-sex fitting rooms. From a legal standpoint this is so, so basic. Posters repeatedly 'misunderstanding' it as some kind of catch-all anti-trans law achieves precisely nothing.

Edited

I don’t agree with mixed changing rooms, it’s very disappointing they are doing this. And I would tell them. But I really don’t want John Lewis to close.
Lets hope they listen and take action.

AStonedRose · 11/04/2026 22:09

cotswoldsgal1234 · 11/04/2026 21:57

Why would you want a British company, employing thousands of people to collapse? How sad.

Because they've got unisex changing rooms, silly. it doesn't matter that most of the people who'd be out of work are women, it's their fault for having the wrong job. That's how feminism works.

Coincidentally, I went to the big John Lewis at Bluewater last weekend. It was rammed. I don't think it's going bust any time soon, though I'm sure a boycott by literally dozens of 'GC' types will put a big dent in its balance sheet.

Btw, the Supreme Court decision blatantly doesn't outlaw mixed-sex fitting rooms. From a legal standpoint this is so, so basic. Posters repeatedly 'misunderstanding' it as some kind of catch-all anti-trans law achieves precisely nothing.

cotswoldsgal1234 · 11/04/2026 21:57

Screamingabdabz · 11/04/2026 10:05

Don’t worry - the last couple of times I’ve been in JL (different towns) they’ve been dead. Only the dumb dog walkers letting their dogs snuffle in all the clothes. They’ll go out of business soon.

Why would you want a British company, employing thousands of people to collapse? How sad.

MissGendering · 11/04/2026 21:54

Poster.

Ideas please to get a response from John Lewis to my complaint.
MissGendering · 11/04/2026 21:32

EvelynBeatrice · 11/04/2026 19:39

Please can the women who insist on ‘my Nigel’ coming into the fitting room to give them feedback on what they’re trying on assist by asking them to wait outside. Other women don’t want them there. And if you let one man in, it’s harder to keep the rest out.

I also had the dubious pleasure of overhearing a couple having sex in the changing room next to mine in John Lewis. A man and woman - he had a deep voice!!

Good christ. Did you report it?

MissGendering · 11/04/2026 21:23

It may be legal to have mixed sex changing rooms, however the problem is exactly as the OP describes - she had expected a single sex.space, understandably.

My approach would be a poster campaign. Hold on.

RogueFemale · 11/04/2026 21:20

Weeelokthen · 11/04/2026 20:39

I was in JL lingerie dpt, in Glasgow city centre a month or so ago. A man was redirected to the other changing rooms.
Just saying

It's extra obvious in women's lingerie changing rooms. Of course they are always located next to women's lingerie dept, no chance a bloke might wander in accidentally. I really don't understand why JL has drunk the Kool Aid.

Rhaidimiddim · 11/04/2026 21:19

Find out who the chairman and the members of the board are. Google and Companies House, are your friends.

Email each of them directly and personally.

Make sure to include a focussed, pertinent question/ complaint.

CC Maya Forstater in every email.

ETA - P. S. Be sure to mention that their normal channels of complaint have failed to address you issue and aren't fit for purpose.

Weeelokthen · 11/04/2026 20:39

I was in JL lingerie dpt, in Glasgow city centre a month or so ago. A man was redirected to the other changing rooms.
Just saying

RogueFemale · 11/04/2026 20:06

Nevershoppingagaininjohnlewis · 11/04/2026 09:02

In January, I was horrified to discover at the end of a bra fitting that John Lewis now have unisex changing rooms.

I complained at the time. They took a month to reply to my complaint, and even then JLs response didn't address what I'd raised.

I escalated my complaint mid March. Still no response as of today.

Any suggestions as to what to do next?

I'm thinking a daily X/insta reminder that they haven't replied? However, when I did that for the initial complaint, I was ignored or had a "we've passed your concerns onto the store involved".

The only other think I could think of was an actual letter sent via recorded delivery.

What would you do? This has bothered me too much to let it drop.

@Nevershoppingagaininjohnlewis In your shoes I would contact Sex Matters for advice. https://sex-matters.org/

See also https://sex-matters.org/posts/updates/ms-warned-mixed-sex-changing-rooms-could-be-unlawful/

M&S warned mixed-sex changing rooms could be unlawful

Sex Matters has written to the senior leadership of Marks & Spencer (M&S) to warn the company that its policy of advertising male and female

https://sex-matters.org/posts/updates/ms-warned-mixed-sex-changing-rooms-could-be-unlawful/

EvelynBeatrice · 11/04/2026 19:44

Another option for safety is the arrangement I’ve seen in some H&M branches with seats in the middle of a square area with cubicles all round off it. All open with an attendant so presumably reducing the risk of anything dodgy. Not ideal - I’d prefer single sex - but at least I don’t worry about my teens in there.

They were barred from the lower floor unisex often unattended changing rooms in our local River Island after I’d witnessed a guy opening a changing room door to a woman undressing - a stranger to him.