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Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

Next shop toilets: male, accessible, babychange and unisex.

27 replies

MrsWooster · 27/03/2018 16:40

Spot the missing group.
I wrote to Next, asking if this reflects a wider disdain towards women in their company policy. I await their reply.
(Nb this is based on a twitter image of the loo door, I've not seen it myself... I'm pretty sure I'll be corrected asap if it's not true)

OP posts:
AssassinatedBeauty · 27/03/2018 16:53

Do you know for certain that the image is from the UK and not altered at all?

SmurfOrTerf · 27/03/2018 16:57

I've never seen toilets in Next

MrsWooster · 27/03/2018 16:58

No, hence the disclaimer.

OP posts:
ShotsFired · 27/03/2018 16:58

If I am near our big Next this weekend I will go and check (depends on how our plans turn out).

ShotsFired · 27/03/2018 17:02

But....this is an idea which has legs.

Should we start taking photos of all shops loos (whatever signage) and contacting them to ask their policy on who uses what?

(If they have M/F): Phrase it something like "will you retain the single sex toilet facilities for users of each sex, under the exemptions of the equality act section xyz?" but far better worded than that

(And with something reversed if they have as per OP).

Basically, give them the "answer" so they can just easily say "yes", or have to lay it all out why they are saying "no"

MrsWooster · 27/03/2018 17:05

Nice one, shots.

OP posts:
Wobbleslikeaweeble · 27/03/2018 17:25

These are they pics on twitter

Next shop toilets: male, accessible, babychange and unisex.
Next shop toilets: male, accessible, babychange and unisex.
SweetGrapes · 27/03/2018 17:37

If this is cotrect, then the ones who really have nowhere to pee are female wheelchair users.
Right at the bottom of the pile... and illegal.

I am shopping over the few days. Will keep an eye out.

MrsJoshDun · 27/03/2018 17:39

This is shit if it’s true. Why do men get to keep their toilet just for themselves? Make theirs unisex and see how they like it!

honeysucklejasmine · 27/03/2018 17:41

I wonder if it's an attempt to allow father's access to the baby change? It's really fucking annoying that I have to change all nappies out and about because there's no baby change in the gents.

As pp say, it's females with disabilities who are missed out entirely.

I wonder what the toilets are like inside? Individual stalls containing a floor to ceiling door and a sink, or your standard "school bogs" style set up.

tribpot · 27/03/2018 17:42

I assume by 'male toilets' they mean urinals. However, they might need to find more inclusive language - 'stand up urinators'?

honeysucklejasmine · 27/03/2018 17:42

Argh, errant apostrophe. Sorry.

BubblesAndSquarks · 27/03/2018 17:43

From that sign I would say that's reasonable. It looks like they have 2 cubicles, one has a baby change table, one has wheelchair access. If neither of these are required then they have designated one to each gender.

BubblesAndSquarks · 27/03/2018 17:48

I just realised the baby change one is unisex not just female. There probably was some reasoning behind it though.

They are most likely thinking the men will use the male one unless needing to change a nappy, and that putting the baby change in the primarily female toilet is likely to be a lot more hygienic than having it in the one that possibly has urinals etc in it.

MrsJoshDun · 27/03/2018 17:52

Oh if they’re individual cubicles which can be used by different people at different times then that’s ok.....I was imagining a room of toilets (in cubicles).

Some restaurants only have one toilet and it’s unisex.....which doesn’t bother me.

Nextloorejext · 27/03/2018 17:54

The “male loo”is a lockable single room like a disabled loo - so basically they’ve stuck a “male” sign on the disabled/accessible loo. The unisex is a room with a nappy changing area and a cubicle with a gap under the thin door - the main door to this room cannot be locked - I think.

CircleSquareCircleSquare · 27/03/2018 18:06

I wouldn’t even go through the door of that unisex loo. It doesn’t indicate if it is one room with several stalls, if it is just one room with a loo and baby change, if there is a choice between the two. I just wouldn’t use it.

I’m also disabled and whilst I don’t always need to use an accessible toilet, if I did I wouldn’t have a clue where I stood with these signs. There is no clarity apart from for men.

WidowWadman · 27/03/2018 20:33

Meh. Looks like they only have space for a changing table in one of the toilets and don't want to discourage fathers from changing nappies. Would you find it preferable if only women had access to the changing table? Really?

MrsWooster · 27/03/2018 20:44

I would find it preferable if women had access to women-only spaces.

OP posts:
BloodyFreezing · 27/03/2018 20:47

Looks like they only have space for a changing table in one of the toilets and don't want to discourage fathers from changing nappies. Would you find it preferable if only women had access to the changing table? Really?

There's one room (the men only one) that is a completely enclosed single toilet. The other room has the baby changing facilities and then a cubicle (with a gap between the floor and door - not an enclosed private space). As women are more vulnerable to male sexual violence and as toilet provision for women is generally inadequate (hence the queues), wouldn't it be better to have the private cubicle as women only - and still keep the room with the baby changing facilities and the less private cubicle as unisex? Why should men have twice as much provision as women - and be the only sex entitled to privacy?

BloodyFreezing · 27/03/2018 20:49

It's in Swindon:

twitter.com/nextofficial/status/978644645210140672

MrsWooster · 27/03/2018 20:54

thank you Bloody You summed it up.

OP posts:
starzig · 27/03/2018 21:00

You do know they do not HAVE to provide a toilet. You don't like it, don't use it. Looks a lot nicer than the unisex service / petrol station toilets they have had as long as I remember.

Nextloorejext · 27/03/2018 21:11

Yes, I guess the women customers (in a store where majority of customers are women) should be greatful to have been included at all - allowed access to the one stall allocated to everyone - while the fewer male customers can choose a secure private room labelled Male or use the unisex loo along with the women, non binary, gender fluid, demi boy pansexuals and of course furries. I bet Rachel Dolezal is hiding somewhere in there too.

thebewilderness · 27/03/2018 21:11

If we don't like it we can stay home.