Is it compulsory for shops to provide single sex changing rooms?

[HuskyNew]

This is not a trans post.

Today at Next the changing rooms positioned next to the Women’s & children’s departments had 2 grown men plus a couple of early teens boys in it.

There is another changing room upstairs by the men’s department.

I did look for a sign but there wasn’t any - simple said “changing room” , not women’s changing room.

the cubicles inside were just separated by curtains, not solid lockable doors. I felt uncomfortable changing with men literally outside. One of them wasn’t even changing himself, just stood outside my curtain chatting to his wife & child while they changed.

it is worth emailing Next? Or is this just what we’re all supposed to accept these days.

You say it's not a trans post, but I wonder if it's trans related. Maybe they didn't want to deal with the issue of which changing rooms get used by trans people, and just threw in the towel. Plus, if it's anything like the Nexts that I've been to lately, they no longer have staff on the changing rooms, so whatever policy they have anyone could walk in. Of course, lack of staff increases the likelihood of abusive behaviour.

Yeh I guess so, and the trans thing probably did stop me asking any questions.

But the men in there were 100% men, playing roles of Dads. They just seemed to assume they were fine to be in there.

It's my understanding that if it says it's for women only, it has to be women. Likewise for men only.

If it doesn't specify, it can be anyone.

But, as you pointed out, it made you feel uncomfortable. So there is a case to be had that it's discriminatory towards women, because they are more uncomfortable in mixed spaces than men.

But this has yet to be tested in court.

Statistically mixed spaces are also more dangerous for women. So I should imagine anyone taking it to court would win.

I thought in situations where women were taking their clothes off and changing etc, a business was legally obliged to provide same sex areas?

I can only imagine the amount of whoops there slides my phone with it's camera faced up under your curtain situations that happen in the absence of same sex provision... There's a whole bunch of forums dedicated to just that alone.

I guess businesses like Next assume women just won't complain.

We should be getting some guidance from the EHRC soon. And I bet you they talk about changing rooms. It's on everyone's mind.

Well they are fine to be in there, really, as Next changing rooms seem to be shared. But they're not really fine, are they? Curtains with gaps at the sides and underneath, no staff...

I used one recently and left something behind. When I went back to get it I couldn't be sure which changing pod I'd used, and the curtains were drawn across but it wasn't clear there was anyone in. No one answered, and I bent down to see check there were no feet, which made me feel pretty weird, but there was a definite risk of me opening the curtain on a half-dressed man.

Most changing rooms in shops are mixed sex. It's not uncommon, actually the more i think about it, its quite the norm. Same as family swimming baths, mixed sex showers and changing rooms. Been that way for years.

@dontcomeatme since when? Just about all shops have male and female changing rooms, sometimes with a shared entrance then the women go left and the men right, but mixed sex? Hardly ever.

As for the swimming pools, yes many are mixed-sex, but that doesn't make it ok. It's well-known that these are higher risk for women. "women and girls are more vulnerable in mixed changing rooms and there is a danger these places are becoming a magnet for sexual offenders," https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/women/sexual-assault-unisex-changing-rooms-sunday-times-women-risk-a8519086.html

But these places have lockable doors not just flimsy curtains that barely cover the gap

Very true about the locked doors fair point.

@DuesToTheDirtjust off the top of my head, my local primark, sainsburys, asda, select, new look, erm, most shops actually, have just one fitting area with multiple rooms/curtained off cubicles. The shops aren't big enough to have 2 fitting areas 🤷🏻‍♀️

@dontcomeatme I'm surprised; maybe I don't do much clothes shopping...

@DuesToTheDirtI just googled it, most shops try to have separate spaces but not all are able. Maybe my town is just small = small shops less floor space🤷🏻‍♀️

If they were for both the children's and womens sections, then it would be expected to find fathers and boys in there... Next sells clothes for young teen boys in their children's section, and fathers take daughters (and sons!) shopping

If it was just in the womens section, there could be an expectation of no men.

I have literally had the same experience in Next today!! It was in the women’s clothing area but the changing area was just labelled ‘fittting room’. Someone’s husband just walked right in there…chatting to his wife/scrolling on his phone. He was harmless I’m sure but I felt very uncomfortable and conscious of making sure there were no gaps in the curtain. First time I’ve had that experience in a shop.

I'm curious.
If you have single sex changing room areas, how do you practically manage the finding things and trying on?

I never know the correct size, as each brand sizes differently and often the sizing isn't consistent even inside one shop.
I'd typically start with trying a few things on to narrow down the cuts and sizes and my partner is going back and forth bringing me the alternatives to try based on that. And I do the same for him with men's clothes.

In my country (EU) single sex areas in the shops just aren't a thing (yes we have single sex locker rooms, toilets, showers at sport centers, just not in the shops), so it is normal here, the same as having fathers there waiting with children.

No.

Smaller shops that sell men and women's clothes will often only have 2 or 3 changing rooms.

It was a long time ago now, but when I worked in M&S the only changing room that was strictly single sex was in the Lingerie department. And it was a bit of a challenge keeping men out sometimes!

As far as I’m aware, it is not necessary to have separate changing rooms as long as there’s cubicles (which all shops have these days, in years gone by there was communal changing) many shops only have one set of changing rooms.

I’ve had this in H and M with their saloon door changing rooms. My 13 was trying on swimwear. It was full of boyfriends and husbands! It really made me question how safe a teen would be trying in swimwear etc without a parent. I was told on here it’s the norm now.

I've done a FOI search for a big shopping centre on voyeurism crimes since 2012 when it was built. I think I should get the results soon. I am expecting the figures to have made a steady increase since maybe 2019 (with a dip for covid) due to the unisex changing. I'll post here once I have got the results. Maybe we all need to get our local figures and try to get some of this reversed. Let's face it if we can't try on clothes in a shop and feel comfortable, then we will revert to online purchasing won't we?

Commenting for the results of @TittleTattle25FOI request. VERY interested to know the results. I hate mixed sex changing rooms and will always order online rather than use them.

Mixed sex changing rooms, toilets and showers with just a curtain and no fully enclosed cubicle with locking door?

Why would a teenager or preteen need an adult in the changing area with them? Surly they go in alone and change, then come out into the shop to show their adult if need be?
Dh took dd shopping many times when she was growing up. He never went in the changing rooms with her.

Ever since this happened at a local leisure centre, I have been wary of mixed sex changing rooms. If the doors are floor to ceiling, fine. Otherwise, neither I nor my DCs are going in.

https://www.getsurrey.co.uk/news/local-news/man-used-gym-bag-camera-4813312?int_source=amp_continue_reading&int_medium=amp&int_campaign=continue_reading_button#google_vignette