To alert you to the fact that Topshop just changed its policy to let men into the women's changing rooms

[YouStoleTheBowlFromTheRoom]

Been made aware of this today: a 'gender fluid' man having a pop at Topshop because he wasn't allowed to use the women's changing rooms at their Manchester store:

twitter.com/travisalabanza/status/927198660089339904

Topshop have now been quoted as apologising to him, and saying they've changed their policy to get rid of sex-segregated changing rooms altogether.

Another shop to strike off the list. Am I the only one worried this is past the point of no return?

The question was aibu to point out topshop has gender neutral changing rooms.

It wasn't, though, was it?

"Topshop just changed its policy to let men into the women's changing rooms"

Again, it wasn't a gender neutral changing room. It was a women's changing room. A man wanted to use it, was told to use the men's room, had a paddy, and now he can use the women's room.

More shots of 'not a male' Travis:

www.rudyloewe.com/T-shirts

Lml great it doesn't bother you.

But it probably does bother many of the 20% of women who have been victims of sexual violence. And many of the 80% who haven't.

By removing male and female changing rooms they either need to go without changing rooms or create gender neutral spaces.

Unless everyone here assumes it will be 'anyone' and 'male' changing rooms?

Much like I wouldn't force a man to have a penis examination with a female doctor

But you’re indifferent if other women don’t want to have their breasts examined by blokes in a changing room...

I don’t think the principal point is whether it’s safe or not, simply whether women feel comfortable with it. It doesn’t have to be unsafe for it not to be ok, but the safety aspect does need to be considered.

Also, those who are so outraged are losing all respect by posting pictures on the internet mocking Travis.

You don't want shared changing facilities in case someone intimidates, mocks or takea pictures of you but you are happy to do that online?

Why are women on her telling other women what they should or shouldn't feel about sharing a space with men.

Some women feel uncomfortable sharing a space with men. They have every right and reasonable grounds to feel that way.

Personally the changing room wouldn't bother me if it's cubical, but it does a lot of women and those women's feeling should be taken into consideration. The gender fluid man is allowed to feel uncomfortable with his own gender but women arn't allowed to feel uncomfortable with men.

Staples This is what was said in the Buzzfeed article (image). And here's the thread on Twitter - if you follow it down, you'll see complaints about sex-segregated changing rooms, then you'll see Topshop comment that they recently changed their policy.

Whoops, link would help.

twitter.com/travisalabanza/status/927198660089339904

I couldn't give a flying fuck if Travis has three heads. He sounds like a spoilt brat. Calling a shop 'vile' because it doesn't give him what he wants immediately. Grow up.

Tatiana but that isn't the case. It's one area with many individual changing rooms. You're happily assuming all men want to sexually assault and abuse you.

If someone is going to stare at your breasts they will do it walking through the street, in a coffee shop and wherever. The issue there is not changing rooms.
You may feel insecure modelling clothes for others to see if a man is there but will happily wear them in public, in front of many people.

I can reasonably expect privacy in a changing room. The pictures being posted are in the public domain already and shared by Travis himself. I am using the photos to ask if his image is what we are now to consider as female.

Alabanza said the experience had put a damper on the event they were shopping for, and even led them to consider dressing differently for it.

"It’s completely changed my feelings. I’m not really excited about what I’m going to wear," they said.

Truly, truly the Civil Rights issue of our time.

LML I'm sure you would be happy sending your young female teens into a changing room that welcomes all sorts too.

As a mother my job is to protect my children ....or at least discuss the risks with them. How can I be sure that TopShop won't allow male perverts into the female changing area? How do I know exactly why a male would prefer to use a female changing room as opposed to male facility?

I have no problem at all with a husband accompanying his disabled wife to try on clothes - he obviously has a reason.

Neither do I object to being examined by a male doctor. If my young teens were to be examined by a male doctor I would request to accompany them. In fact if a female has to have an intimate examination by a male doctor a female chaperone is present - in our surgery anyway - To protect the female patient and the Doctor. Why is that do you think?

Afternoon it's more the other way round. Anyone who isn't bothered about it is deemed as not caring about womens rights, not respecting the views of women and being male sympathisers.

Unless everyone here assumes it will be 'anyone' and 'male' changing rooms?

The toilets in one of my old university buildings were changed to "male" and "gender neutral". It's very rarely the men that have to change their ways. Just us women.

"Also, those who are so outraged are losing all respect by posting pictures on the internet mocking Travis. "

He posted them himself.

"You don't want shared changing facilities in case someone intimidates, mocks or takea pictures of you but you are happy to do that online?"

How does that work? Travis: 'I'm not a man' Me: 'Yes you are, look'.

How is that in any way related to a space being single-sex?

By removing male and female changing rooms they either need to go without changing rooms or create gender neutral spaces.

Why can’t they create a gender neutral changing room without removing male only and female only changing rooms? Why can’t they cater for all instead of just the few who actually want to change with the opposite sex?

The world has truly gone mad. i have grandchildren and despair over the kind of world they're going to have to live in when i'm gone. Not just this, other things too.

Oh, and here's written evidence of the policy change, Staples

twitter.com/travisalabanza/status/927198660089339904

Image in case anyone can't click

Bumpowder no, the comments have been mocking.

formerly

No. They've been asking if this is the new standard by which being female is measured. Are these now the new female characteristics.

I probably used to be one of those who'd say "I've been seriously sexually assaulted and still don't care about segregated spaces".

But enough women said they did care about who they were naked next to, for me to take mind.

this news article from yesterday is absolutely horrific and is an example of a young woman who was raped as a child and is now (justifiably) very fearful in the presence of men. [warning, it's incredibly distressing]

Even if I couldn't imagine myself being worried by the presence of a man, I wouldn't impose my views on all of the other women, nor dismiss their fears as irrational fussing.