Risk assessments regarding clothing shop changing rooms

[finnmcool]

I'm bloody frustrated! I've phoned New Look, Topshop, John Lewis and Marks and Spencer asking for information about what risk assessments they did when they decided to allow males who self id as females into the changing rooms.

Not one of them could give me an answer, they're all getting back to me.
Marks and Spencer have to be highlighted for their aggressive stance though.
I was talked over, interrupted and told they aren't changing their policy. I was told that I can't even put a freedom of information request in, because their policy 'comes under business model'
This was a woman in the management team
.
GLL, haven't got back to me yet, regarding their gym/swim changing room policy.
How is it not a breach of law to allow males into women's spaces without consent and risk assessing?
Sorry, I'm a lurker who occasionally comments, but I quietly fight our battles in my area.
Thank you if you've read my rant.

Rooms, not roo. S 😁

@finnmcool

Rooms, not roo. S 😁

We've edited the title of your thread now, OP.

I'm wondering if there is a legal position that can be taken against these corporate bodies given they are facilitating any sexual offences that occur on their premises. A corporate body is a 'person' in law, is it not?

Thanks Jo 😁

I don't know jacky I'm not half as clued up or articulate as you all are.
That's why I was asking for evidence of risk assessments. I approached a lot of the big companies last year and was basically told to bugger off.

Ask if their liability insurers and risk management team are aware they’ve increased the likelihood that their female customers will become victims of crimes of exposure, voyeurism, and assault on their premises.

Ask what their doing to mitigate such risk,now that they’ve been informed of it.

Tell them you’re aware that having been informed of a risk, then failing to mitigate it, will increase their exposure to financial penalty when sued for damages.

I should do this with my leisure centre, now has entirely unisex changing (cubicles) and DC can use facilities unsupervised from age 8.

finnmcool

I think you are doing fine, sister. Keep chipping away at it.

Send those corporate bodies this web page:

fairplayforwomen.com/changing_rooms/

That's a good idea bickerin I did ask GLL for information about who insures them. So far, no response.
Thank you for your help and ideas.

Yes, mine is GLL too.

Well done OP!

I wonder if these stores will now see a rise in returns with women buying, trying at home and returning if not suitable? I don't think many high street stores can afford a drop in sales by women avoiding them.

jacky I attached that link to the email I sent GLL, no response.
I'll send it to the clothes shops.
I did challenge the clothes shops about female socialisation, male aggression and the fact their core customers are teenage girls and women and girls getting their bras fitted, being naked from the waist up.

GLL for information about who insures them. So far, no response.

Their public liability insurance certificate should be displayed somewhere. I think(?) they are obliged to have it visible.

loopy go for it, it would be nice to have another voice.
The national safeguarding officer for GLL is called Muir FORREST.
I posted his initial responses on the feminism board.
I'm pretty sure it was under the title of GLL if that helps?

Thank you genderfreelass none of my friends are interested, so, a lot of the time, I feel alone regarding this battle.

Sorry, but what do you propose they actually do? Without getting into the debate of what constitutes as ‘female’ what do you think should be done in practice? We take a blood sample and karyotype every person dressed in female clothing to confirm their sex before we allow them to try on a blouse in a female space? Do we tell the poor store assistant to turn away anyone that they deem to look too masculine? Or perhaps we should just check the genitals of everyone that comes through the door to be on the safe side.

Does anyone know where (if they are) they are obliged to display details of their public liability insurers?

Buzz so far, I've not seen that information, probably looking in the wrong place!

DNA I have been asking about their risk assessments. Unfortunately, it's becoming clear, that these companies have not bothered to do a risk assessment.

Thank you for doing this finn
Retail on high streets (as opposed to web) is up the spout if people won’t go in there to shop. They can’t afford to risk alienating women by putting them at risk.

Ova good point. I need to investigate further.
I'm on a massive learning curve, regarding approaching companies and what to ask for.

DNA
What do I expect? For them to keep their policies in line with the Equality Act ideally.

Or be honest and clear about their change in policy and how it affects sex specific provision so women are informed and can consent.

That’s it really.

Sorry, but what do you propose they actually do? Without getting into the debate of what constitutes as ‘female’ what do you think should be done in practice?

UK law is very clear about what constitutes biological sex [via case law]:

sex = a congruence of chromosomes, gonads and genitals.

So, for females this means XX chromosomes, ovaries and a vulva; for males this means XY chromosomes, testicles and a penis.

UK Equality Act 2010 defines the sexes thus:

man: a male of any age
woman: a female of any age.

Humans can usually distinguish very quickly who is female and who is male via using some of their five senses. [Anyone who is an outlier and becomes wrongly assessed is rare.]

So, we do as we have always done and rely on our instincts and senses to determine who is female or male and exclude appropriately from relevant single-sex spaces.

There was a new Primark opened in Birmingham.a few weeks ago. It's mixed sex changing and I've boycotted it.