It’s official; Marks and Spencer have fallen, the sequel.......

[MrsSnippyPants]

First thread getting full and and I continue to be interested in responses received to people’s emails and store visits.

She didn't sound particularly comfortable being interviewed at all IMO

I really think M&S have made a monumental error here-they can see Centre Parcs doing the right thing, in offering private space to trans people while keeping single sex for women & girls....they need to change their policy-OR they are happy for the clothing side to disolve & just sell food-which lets face it the majority is bought by WOMEN who will most likely boycott the store now!

That interview was crap, not surprised as it was BBC. The woman completely avoided the issue and it should have been clarified.

Just to say my email to HQ got the stock answer back (let people use the changing rooms they're comfortable with, etc etc). I've challenged it, for what it's worth:

Thank you for your email. Please could you address the specific points in my email with a response that is slightly more tailored than the template answer sent to others who have complained?

Specifically, how does your policy PREVENT voyeurism, the discomfort and reduced dignity of women and girls, and and potentially sexual harassment and assault?

You cite allowing people to use the changing rooms which they feel comfortable; what about women and children's comfort? Why does the comfort and preference of an extremely tiny proportion of the population trump the dignity, comfort and preference of 51% of the population, some of whom will inevitably have experienced sexual harassment and assault (given that 1 in 4 women will do in their lifetime)?

I look forward to your response.

With thanks

Wonder what they'd say if DH emailed to say "I'm a man. If I were to feel most comfortable changing alongside women and girls who are in a state of undress, would it be ok for me to use the changing rooms in the bras and knickers department? I usually like to try on men's chinos."

Is that worth sending or is it being fatuous / petty?

Littlecabbage When I heard Winifred Robinson read out the question I wondered if a Feminist Chatter had emailed in. Yes it was at the end of the programme so there was no time to go into detail but there must have been plenty of other emails they could have used so I think it's good that listeners had a chance to hear about this decision.

”most people” would use the changing room normal for their sex but the rooms are spectacularly unsexed!

Very disappointing interview on r4. I was so pleased to hear them ask the question but then in was glossed over to ask about black trousers ffs. Anyway sounds like between this and the halal furore as well as them just getting it wrong style wise they're not long for this world. I'm sad from the historical perspective and the ongoing death of the high street but if I can't even be sure there won't be men in the changing rooms then farewell to them.

Sorry - i posted about the programme then listened to half of the item then had to talk to our builder and missed the rest. #radfemfail

And just to clarify again that specifically refers to those men who are predatory, abusive and sexually compulsive in this regard, and is obviously not aimed at those who aren’t!

Forgive me if someone has already mentioned this, but what if a middle-aged man feels 'more comfortable' in the children's changing room?

Oh they’ll be coming for that next, Datun, make no mistake about it.

Oh datun

They will take appropriate action should something happen remember?

Anyway, I am in the process of de-registering! Thanks to the many great, strong women and feminists on here whose insights have helped my development so much and done so much for so many wome, and whose strength and fight and grit I hugely admire! You all are awesome. 👍

How is that conversation going to go?

But you're not a child!

You said wherever I felt more comfortable.

Nin

Sorry you feel.you have to go. But I understand. Not being able to use the language we need to in order to talk about or define things is excruciating. I dont know how we all stand it tbh.

WineIsMyCarb

I would definitely send that. I'd also ask if it's okay if he gets changed in the kids', because he feels very, very comfortable indeed in there.

Let them jump through some linguistic hoops to decide that 'more comfortable' might not be the best criteria on which to base where men can access half naked women and children.

@SarahTancredi thank you

Keep up the good fight. I’ll do so in person, with one hundred percent renewed vigour. This is not the arena for me anymore!

@littlecabbage - well done on your question being read out on You and Yours at 12.55pm. I was amazed that BBCR4 said 'men in women's changing rooms', rather than 'transwomen in women's changing rooms', and the M&S rep didn't dispute that. Small victories! I agree, she sounded deeply uncomfortable. Pulllllll!

The changing rooms question on Your and Yours is at 38:30 here: www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m000b0bv

I would urge everyone to go to their local store and speak to staff and management about this.

I did today and while the manager gave me the inclusive blurb I was able to counter that in a constructive way and I definitely got her thinking.

To the person who reported me - you may drive us off this forum but the only long-term result will be that you drive us underground where our efforts will be redoubled and our actions will be tenfold more powerful because they will be taken in the grassroots, in real life, where people know instinctively, absolutely without doubt, what is right or wrong. You will never stop us.

This is what they do not understand. And I am with you 100%