John Lewis

[sybilshade]

fallen
See twitter

My friends, family and colleagues didn't know about this.

I have informed them.

They too are shocked and will think twice about handing their hard earned cash over to these companies.

Keep it rolling.....

It's not all about making retailers fall. Although, of course they will if enough people do it.

The issue on that particular outcome is whether enough people will do it.

And unlikely as it might be to make them 'fall', it will get publicity. And publicity alerts more people to the problem.

In conjunction with Maya Fostarter hopefully establishing the fact that we can all talk about this as much as we like, whenever we like and as loud as we like, it's really important to raise the issue wherever you can.

Boycotting shops and telling people why is raising the issue.

All the national newspapers are reporting on it. They wouldn't have done that without people boycotting the shops.

I boycotted Tesco and The Times for years because of Shirley Porter and Rupert Murdoch- both managed fine without me. The irony now being I've ditched The Guardian in favour of The Times

Well, yes!

I protested outside of one of first Mcdonald's to arrive in the U.K back in the day - and have never set foot in one since......It still going strong on the high street, though, although it is, maybe the case that they now try to show they have ethical credentials and care about animal welfare and rainforests ( when really they don't at all).

I also gave up my Guardian subscription over the issue of lack of reporting over TRA/women's issues, or certainly presenting very skewed reporting when it did occur. But in all honesty, I still look at it on-line, even if i don't give it my money..so I'm not really being consistent if I'm truthful.

We all do things in our everyday lives which have meaning for us, and which suggest we have a voice and a power to effect change...even if in isolation this is a bit of an illusion. When you want to stand up for something, or against something it can, and often does, make life more tricky or more difficult for yourself; and how far do we go in the name of being consistent and applying ethical standards across the board?

And you want to scold women for daring to even imply they might place the interests of women above those of people born male?

You misunderstand. Yesterday Catmaiden went off on one telling me I didn't care as much about women and children as her - just because I mentioned this had been the J.Lewis practice for years, and I had yet to encounter a man in the women's dressing room.

who makes things unnecessarily personal and insinuates that she cares more about women and children than others

The fact that this seems to upset you so very much perhaps exposes your agenda a little bit more just

I find that to be a very very bizarre comment on a thread which is all about protecting the safety of women and children.

perhaps exposes your agenda a little bit

Interesting! And what do you imagine that agenda is?

Well it seems to be anti-woman that's the point I was making. I am wondering why that might be tbh.

Well it seems to be anti-woman that's the point I was making. I am wondering why that might be tbh

Well you will have to ask yourself why you imagine that, not me.

I suggest it was because I was coming at the issue from a different angle/tangent to yourself and some others, and was quite forthright in expressing that. It was never personal though, just strongly expressed.It must surely be possible to debate, though, even in the strongest terms, without being rude or making things unnecessarily personal.

Wondering where I'll be 'most comfortable' doing my Christmas shopping and sale shopping now...

This was actually the little push I needed to cut my Waitrose habit anyway. (Hitherto justified on the basis that they treat their farmers and staff well).

Hopefully Justhadathought you can now accept that your views have been noted - even though few of us seem to agree with you - and the thread can move on?

I've just completed my letters to JL re cancelling my account and a response to M & S re their "oooh, you've cancelled your standing order" letter. Very satisfying. And I have a new apple laptop sitting in a basket on another site - just need to double check that this is the best deal available before clicking on the button.

I rather like the advice from the poet being shared on the other thread: I am prepared, as someone of an age and body type that the average person would plead desperately not to have to encounter in undies, to just strip off and try things on directly on the shop floor. No difference in privacy to the mixed sex changing rooms, just no enclosed spaces or TWM soiling the floor or hopefully leaving his curtain ajar. If women's privacy isn't something to mind about then what the hell.

Hopefully Justhadathought you can now accept that your views have been noted - even though few of us seem to agree with you - and the thread can move on?

The truth is I don't think many have really understood what my point was in the first instance. People just registered disagreement on some level and assumed ill intent.

This is a discussion forum and not everyone will be in total alignment, and many have strong views......but, yes, I'll leave you to discussing your boycott. It will be interesting to see how long you persist, and what sort of results you get.

I'll still keep lobbying myself, of course, but have to say I like J.Lewis and will continue to shop there - because it offers most of what I like and require for my home and lifestyle; the service is generally good, and the after-sales is too. Plus as a worker's co-operative I have more respect and regard for it than I do most high street retailers. i don't like shopping in general - and having one store which offers everything suits me.

I'll continue the struggle for women's privacy, dignity and space in other ways; ways that I consider more meaningful & achievable for me.

I'd like the thread to move on. It's almost beginning to feel like it's been de-railed on purpose.

I'd like the thread to move on. It's almost beginning to feel like it's been de-railed on purpose.

Same here.

I'm waiting with interest to see responses to my emails to JL and M&S, I'm not expecting much tbh, but we shall see.

See my post above.

Dear Ms (how very dare they assume) Fekko bleah bla rainbow unicorn sparkle inclusion (ignore equality act query) vomit, fuck off you woman, Yours sincerely, A (probably a made up name, no pronoun offered).

I will email them tomorrow (had wine at lunch so not likely to be polite or particularly coherent, succinct or diplomatic right now).

Any thoughts ?

To date neither M & S or John Lewis have made any response to the specific concerns that have been raised from what I can see.
Why are they doing this when none of their women customers are asking to share changing rooms with men??
Why they are ignoring the exemptions in the Equality Act?
Why they are ignoring all the evidence of increased risks and hazards to women from mixed sex changing rooms?
Why are they placing women and children at direct risk of harm from predatory males who will use mixed sex facilities to access them when vulnerable?

Just word salad meaningless responses?

Has anyone had a clear rationale other than 'some men feel more comfortable in women's changing rooms'? Is that it?

Just cut and paste:

‘As an inclusive business, our customers are welcome to use whichever fitting room makes them feel the most comfortable.’

Soooooo if you feel uncomfortable, that’s just tough? What if I were to feel comfortable changing in the food hall or there directors office?

The JL/Waitrose I go to is frequented by the teen girls from the girls school just up the road. I wonder what the head would say - I would hope an all girls school would be fiercely defending single sexual spaces?

Actually, Daily Mail this might be a thread for you!

So I got a reply - basically, Piss off Fekko (extend middle digit).
Can someone please give me the Equality Act 2010 nuts and bolts?

Here you are Fekko.
This is Fair Play for Women's guide for service providers:

fairplayforwomen.com/changing_rooms/

That is a fantastic link and explanation. It echoes what we have All being saying about a third option.

Lordy this is going to be a long email.

I did take a look at a certain lobby groups 'bragging' page on their website and sure enough, JL was there a as buddy or ally or familiar or whatever the term is.

I haven't even got onto the changing room next to the kids/school unform dept or the girls school...

Slightly off topic, but, Phil Collins came on the car radio yesterday and I atomatically turned it over! I realised this is my longest running boycott.

Collins said he would leave the country if Labour won in 1997. 22 years of boycott, I don't think it's done him any harm but it makes me feel better.

Nestle was a big boycott when I was at school (baby milk scandal?) but I'm sure I've eaten a few KitKats since, so not maintained the boycott.

The brand Nestle is always a bit tainted for me though, so boycotts do have an effect on brand perceptions even if not always financially hard hitting