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Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

M&S Colchester claim mixed changing is ‘completely safe’ for women.

460 replies

PeachOctopus · 27/05/2026 12:31

How is it that M&S can continue to flaunt the high court ruling and do not offer single sex changing rooms?

Abouterf in this video confronts the store manager and is fobbed off and told that it’s head offices policy:

Colchester @marksandspencer I asked where the women’s changing room was to try on swimwear. Manager Andrew (he/ his /him) says gender neutral changing areas are “completely safe” for women and girls. For asking him this question, he told me to leave the store.

Abouterf x account

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ScribblingPixie · 28/05/2026 16:08

Easytoconfuse · 28/05/2026 16:04

One could equally say 'go into gents loo if you are a biological male, go into the cubicle, lock the door, do what you have to, leave and go about your day.'

Somehow, I think you'd be outraged if anyone did say that to you.

Also, who decided that women couldn't enjoy shopping for clothes any more? It used to be fun. Now it's lock your door and go about your business? Jeez.

Easytoconfuse · 28/05/2026 16:07

FinchiePink · 27/05/2026 15:30

She's not being polite. She's being deliberately obtuse and following him after he's spoken to her, and filming in the hope of getting social media points.

She doesn't have to get undressed with men.

The store manager has no control over head office policy.

Could you explain how you know her motives? While you're at it, a lot of us would like to know the next EuroMillions lottery numbers. I'd suggest that she was trying to get proof of what had been said because she was concerned that the new guidance had apparently changed nothing. I'd be grateful to any legally minded souls who can confirm that it isn't just a case of saying 'right, it's all unisex now ha ha.'

Easytoconfuse · 28/05/2026 16:04

VivienneDelacroix · 27/05/2026 13:47

It's not a women's only space, it's a mixed gender fitting room. It's for everyone. Lock the door, get changed, unlock the door, go about your day.

One could equally say 'go into gents loo if you are a biological male, go into the cubicle, lock the door, do what you have to, leave and go about your day.'

Somehow, I think you'd be outraged if anyone did say that to you.

Easytoconfuse · 28/05/2026 16:00

TheLocust · 27/05/2026 13:24

Agree. It's not the individual shop worker's fault. It's the people at the top of the tree that need confronting. Not sure how that could be achieved though.

Ah yes, the 'I was only obeying orders' excuse. The underlying point is that he told a woman that it was perfectly safe and had her chucked out of the store for asking a perfectly reasonable question.

Was that prescribed by head office? Or was it all his own idea?

LlynTegid · 28/05/2026 15:59

I think there should be separate changing rooms for women (as defined by the Supreme Court), for men (ditto) and perhaps ones where there is good reason to be accompanied by someone else (say a disability).

I cannot see though how only offering mixed changing rooms is anything other than bad business practice.

Mmmnotsure · 28/05/2026 15:54

BeMoreBear · 28/05/2026 15:42

You just want to belong somewhere or to something.

The projection in that statement there is really something to behold. And you sound like a teenager who's had a bad day, because the cool kids didn't want to play with you. And all you have are insults, and they're are like something out of a bad film made in 2016. And it's hot. And it's half term.

I understand it's frustrating that the grift has run out of road, but activists have always been pushing for the acceptance of something that was never going to be acceptable in the long run. Perhaps you should stop railing at people and try to do something productive with your life. Beating your head against a wall, trying to make people believe in your own special world view, is never going to get you anywhere.

And one day you will grow up and wish that you had done something useful with your life. It's very sad.

Thing is, many of us belong to too many wheres and too many things and too many people.

We have partners, and children, and siblings, and parents, and friends, and careers, and hobbies, and groups we belong to and events we support. We are linked into the world in so many ways. It's women's work, so you don't tend to see it, but there's a whole network of female connections, and energy, and care and time taken, that keeps families and groups and society together.

BeMoreBear · 28/05/2026 15:42

Joanneken · 28/05/2026 15:27

You seriously need to get an identity outside transphobia. The referring to 'we' is a dead giveaway.
You just want to belong somewhere or to something.

You just want to belong somewhere or to something.

The projection in that statement there is really something to behold. And you sound like a teenager who's had a bad day, because the cool kids didn't want to play with you. And all you have are insults, and they're are like something out of a bad film made in 2016. And it's hot. And it's half term.

I understand it's frustrating that the grift has run out of road, but activists have always been pushing for the acceptance of something that was never going to be acceptable in the long run. Perhaps you should stop railing at people and try to do something productive with your life. Beating your head against a wall, trying to make people believe in your own special world view, is never going to get you anywhere.

And one day you will grow up and wish that you had done something useful with your life. It's very sad.

Pingponghavoc · 28/05/2026 15:35

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I dont think his mum will let him dye his hair yet.

TheKeatingFive · 28/05/2026 15:34

Gosh that's a lot of deletions you're working up @Joanneken

You need to cool the jets

TheKeatingFive · 28/05/2026 15:33

Joanneken · 28/05/2026 15:30

Oh christ. She's gonna pretend to know about science now lol

Well, yeah

HootyMcBoobys · 28/05/2026 15:32

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Joanneken · 28/05/2026 15:30

TheKeatingFive · 28/05/2026 15:29

Yes, I belong to a group who think that scientific factd should be respected, as should women's rights.

Guilty as charged.

You seem to be against all that though.

Oh christ. She's gonna pretend to know about science now lol

TheKeatingFive · 28/05/2026 15:29

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So you can't answer that quesiton.

Surprise, surprise.

Joanneken · 28/05/2026 15:29

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TheKeatingFive · 28/05/2026 15:29

Joanneken · 28/05/2026 15:27

You seriously need to get an identity outside transphobia. The referring to 'we' is a dead giveaway.
You just want to belong somewhere or to something.

Yes, I belong to a group who think that scientific factd should be respected, as should women's rights.

Guilty as charged.

You seem to be against all that though.

Pingponghavoc · 28/05/2026 15:28

This is a very strong reaction to criticism of unisex changing rooms and pornhub.

Joanneken · 28/05/2026 15:27

TheKeatingFive · 28/05/2026 15:25

You're just attempting to throw mud at the wall now.

You asked for examples - you got them.

So we were right, yes?

You seriously need to get an identity outside transphobia. The referring to 'we' is a dead giveaway.
You just want to belong somewhere or to something.

HootyMcBoobys · 28/05/2026 15:26

This reply has been deleted

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Joanneken · 28/05/2026 15:25

This reply has been deleted

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TheKeatingFive · 28/05/2026 15:25

Joanneken · 28/05/2026 15:23

My problem is that transphobes are never just one kind of bigot, are they?
Scratch a transphobe... Is a saying for a reason.

Look how many support Trump?
Look how many are mad for Tommy Robinson (who they have no prob using his preferred name, may I add)
Look how many are pro Israel
Look at the brawl at the FiLiA conference because some women dared support Palestine.
Look at the christofascist funding people like sharron Davies and the Darlington nurses.
Look at CPAC funding Posie Parker
Look at LGB Alliance, based at right wing Tufton St and linked to the Heritage Foundation.

I could go on..... Wake tf up.

You're just attempting to throw mud at the wall now.

You asked for examples - you got them.

So we were right, yes?

MintBird · 28/05/2026 15:24

Is it appropriate (or legal) to doxx and harass store employees who are doing their job and say something one doesn't want to hear?

Not saying anyone here is responsible but gender critical people on social media are abusing an employee.

Joanneken · 28/05/2026 15:23

TheKeatingFive · 28/05/2026 15:18

You asked for non white GCs

You got them.

What's your problem?

My problem is that transphobes are never just one kind of bigot, are they?
Scratch a transphobe... Is a saying for a reason.

Look how many support Trump?
Look how many are mad for Tommy Robinson (who they have no prob using his preferred name, may I add)
Look how many are pro Israel
Look at the brawl at the FiLiA conference because some women dared support Palestine.
Look at the christofascist funding people like sharron Davies and the Darlington nurses.
Look at CPAC funding Posie Parker
Look at LGB Alliance, based at right wing Tufton St and linked to the Heritage Foundation.

I could go on..... Wake tf up.

TheKeatingFive · 28/05/2026 15:20

Joanneken · 28/05/2026 15:14

You're literally part of a hate movement 😂

The deflection is wild

Okay, I'll give you a bit chance here.

Please explain to me, slowly and clearly, what is 'hateful' about saying that 1) humans can't change sex, 2) men can't become women and 3) women's rights should be respected.

I await with interest

spannasaurus · 28/05/2026 15:19

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No that was just the first three that came to mind.

I've given all my chairs to Dame Katy so can't take a seat.

Joanneken · 28/05/2026 15:19

HootyMcBoobys · 28/05/2026 15:09

What is wrong with ME? How about what is wrong with the disgusting perverts who do it?

She would be exposed to the same in any retail environment.

You are really something, jumping to ask the Mother of a victim what is wrong with them, rather than addressing the elephant in the room.

MEN accessing female spaces.

No sex based rights? Okay.

So females shouldn't be allowed to ask for a female clinician?
Pregnancy protections and entitlements don't exist?
Of course sex based rights exist.

Mental.

I'm not reading all that.

There is no excuse for placing your child in that environment after repeated traumatic incidents. Saying this happens in all retail stores is just a lie.