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Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

Feminism: chat

Original poster

Thanks primark

32 replies

Waltergritty · 06/12/2019 19:15

Took my 11 year old to try on bras in Primark Central Milton Keynes today.

Where once would have been male and female signage now it’s just ‘in’ and ‘in’ on the changing room signage.

No lockable cubicles just curtains with magnets sewn in the hems.

This store only opened at Easter.

Who is designing this thoughtless crap?

OP posts:
Original poster
Waltergritty · 06/12/2019 19:16

I have a photo but no clue how to post it.

OP posts:
TheProdigalKittensReturn · 06/12/2019 19:29

Below where you'd write your message is there a bit that says Images (up to 30 per day)? If so you can upload pics there.

Also yay, curtains, how secure.

Fraggling · 06/12/2019 19:31

Fuxake

scotsheather · 06/12/2019 19:31

Yup same at ours. Used to be women left and men right, now the signs have quietly gone. Regulars just go where they always have but in reality its no longer segregated.

Original poster
Waltergritty · 06/12/2019 19:37

Thank you, I just have "preview message" and "post message" as options, unfortunately.

I am pissed off in general with the set up but what pisses me off most is the fact that they have planned and opened this store THIS YEAR so it doesn't seem that they're doing that crappy thing of changing existing provision.

Rather, that they have opened it in this crappy way with these crappy curtains. I don't know exactly when it opened but I think April this year as I remember my DD being excited about it and now they've chucked her under the bus...

P.S I work at university of Northampton and they opened a new campus in Autumn last year and the toilet provision is male, female, everyone. I.E. they have factored in a third space. So it IS possible to consider in the planning, if you can only be arsed.

OP posts:
Original poster
Waltergritty · 06/12/2019 19:41

Ok, here it is, 16th April this year:

www.miltonkeynes.co.uk/our-region/milton-keynes/opening-date-finally-revealed-for-huge-three-storey-primark-store-in-milton-keynes-1-8836881

Yeay, flagship store! Yeay 're-imagining an icon' Yeah, putting children in with men and safeguarding them by the power of magnets.

WELL DONE PRIMARK

(we bought a bra in Sainsburys in the end, btw)

OP posts:
Uncompromisingwoman · 06/12/2019 19:51

This is the new reality for women and children Waltergritty . Companies showing no awareness of safety and privacy needs, let alone an attempt to protect anyone from all the predators out there. Depressing.
It's ironic that these companies are likely to have to pay significant compensation given that they are consciously choosing to ignore all available evidence about the hidden cameras, upskirters, secret filmers, sex offenders, rapists etc who exploit every safety lapse and take every opportunity to access women and children when undressed and vulnerable.

TheProdigalKittensReturn · 06/12/2019 19:53

Well, serves them right for allowing themselves to be Stonewalled, really. Maybe a large financial slap on the wrist will help them reassess their priorities. I'll save my sympathy for their female customers.

Zampa · 06/12/2019 19:54

I wonder if it's deliberate?

Do they want us to try stuff on or just buy it and because it's cheap, even if it's not right, you don't bother taking it back because it's more hassle than it's worth?

TheProdigalKittensReturn · 06/12/2019 19:54

Could well be.

namina · 06/12/2019 19:57

@Zampa that's very likely what they are thinking!

MidnightCircus · 06/12/2019 21:02

If that's their thinking (it's sounds right) zampa, I guarantee it won't work in Croydon. Every time I went in that branch, the queue for returns was almost as long as for sales!

Going to original post, what's the strength of these magnets? Are they some sort of sex sorting magnets? Sounds so safe Confused

Original poster
Waltergritty · 06/12/2019 21:08

Gosh don't worry - the changing room attendant made sure to remove my basket of shopping from me (which consisted of £12 worth of assorted lip glosses for my daughter's friends Christmas presents) so there was some safeguarding in place.

TOTALLY SHOPPERPHOBIC OF THEM TO DEDUCE THAT I MIGHT BE ABLE TO USE THEIR CHANGING ROOMS TO COMMIT A CRIME.

Bigots.

OP posts:
Original poster
Waltergritty · 06/12/2019 21:12

I can summarise the experience as:

  1. Primark think that crimes (e.g. shoplifting) are more likely to happen in areas of their store that aren't covered by CCTV and so extra security measures are needed in these areas; and

  2. Primark think that crimes (e.g. sex offences) will definitely not happen in areas of their store that aren't covered by CCTV and so no extra security measures are needed in these areas.

So yeah, save the lipgloss.

OP posts:
ItsChristmaaaaaaaaas · 06/12/2019 21:15

This is the way of many High street store changing rooms I’m afraid. Mixed sex and privacy not guarantees. Even bra shops don’t necessarily guarantee single sex facilities.

Original poster
Waltergritty · 06/12/2019 21:17

Indeed, ItsChristmaaaaaaaaas. Hence the point of me posting it here.

OP posts:
ItsChristmaaaaaaaaas · 06/12/2019 21:18

But a lot of people aren’t even aware!

Original poster
Waltergritty · 06/12/2019 21:19

Indeed, ItsChristmaaaaaaaaas.

OP posts:
ItsChristmaaaaaaaaas · 06/12/2019 21:19

But anyone who knows me does... 😈

Milanimilani · 06/12/2019 22:19

I know. I went in a Primark and was sniggered at for suggesting the changing areas should be male or female.

Fraggling · 06/12/2019 22:49

If its a new shop and they want mixed sex changing then they should have done rooms opening onto the shop floor with proper doors and? Really plain so cameras easy to spot and staff checking regularly or something? The camera thing is a real issue.

Of course it means you can't come out to look from a distance in mirror / show your mates / get a hand with a zip / poke your head out and ask for a different size unless you are super confident! So quite a lot is lost with that approach...

Anyway they didn't do that did they, they said hello teen girls come and get your kit off behind flimsy curtains, oh hello chaps in you go..

It's weird tbh. Why are we having to pretend dodgy men aren't all over the place and when they are, at the first sign of iffiness they are always immediately reported, removed, reprimanded etc etc.

SarahTancredi · 06/12/2019 22:51

I'm off there tomorrow op

Makes me sick I also have to go get dd fitted in a shop that has fallen and and any shopping after sill present the same problems. Had planned on popping in to primark as dd also wants to raid the crap for xmas present for friends and look for clothes.

No one wants this and yet they have to the people that do what this knowing that the only reason anyone eoyod want this is for nefarious reasons. Even trans people font want gender neutral as they cant validate their identities using them.

Creepster · 06/12/2019 23:02

It is no coincidence that department stores with fitting rooms were created at the same time public toilets for women were provided.
Women being able to participate in the public sphere changed more than people realize.
Undoing those changes have been surprisingly easy so far.

Toseland · 06/12/2019 23:29

Men with no empathy design this thoughtless crap, or... are we sure it’s thoughtless?
Women’s spaces are places where, almost no man has set foot, the strength and safety in that is special. Also I think cameras will be a problem.
Never mind isn’t fast-fashion out of fashion due to it’s affect on the climate?

Fraggling · 07/12/2019 01:00

Other point
How many teen boys want to try stuff on if there are a group of girls outside a flimsy curtain?
Loads of boys are v shy

Who actually wants this???