M&S Colchester claim mixed changing is ‘completely safe’ for women.

[PeachOctopus]

How is it that M&S can continue to flaunt the high court ruling and do not offer single sex changing rooms?

Abouterf in this video confronts the store manager and is fobbed off and told that it’s head offices policy:

Colchester @marksandspencer I asked where the women’s changing room was to try on swimwear. Manager Andrew (he/ his /him) says gender neutral changing areas are “completely safe” for women and girls. For asking him this question, he told me to leave the store.

Abouterf x account

I don’t think it’s correct to say that all changing rooms will end up mixed sex. The Supreme Court judgment made it clear that there is no priority of one protected characteristic over others. That being the case, you have to consider the needs and particular issues of all groups.

When it comes to women, one issue that has been repeatedly taken into account is their reasonable need for privacy from the opposite sex and their safety too, particularly as there is evidence that they are more vulnerable to voyeurism and abuse in mixed sex environments than men, for example That being the case, failure to provide single sex facilities may be discriminatory.

On the PR front too, it’s not a good look for national institutions like M&S.

I dont understand your logic, by pointing out that men use women changing rooms, the inevitable solutions will be mixed sex changing?

So if we don't complain, we have mixed sex changing, if we do, we get mixed sex changing?

There are many posts on X like this with posters describing stores they have visited. The Baroness asks for evidence.
Maybe some mumsnetters have such evidence.....

https://x.com/i/status/2067499529364963614

Providers have the choice of trans-exclusive single sex changing rooms with a "third space" or simply go for mixed sex. The latter is the most straightforward as it doesn't enable challenging people they believe are transgender which is a discrimination grey area. M&S just need to change their signs, and they are done.

But mixed sex only facilities are highly likely to constitute indirect discrimination against women.

Indirect discrimination is defined as a policy, rule, or practice that applies to everyone but has a disproportionately negative effect on individuals with a protected characteristic, such as sex.

What’s your solution for changing rooms and toilets in terms of design?

Well, that would at least have the virtue of honesty.

No, as long as they have individual, self-contained lockable units.

I had understood that mixed sex could be offered as well as, not instead of single sex provision, unless the mixed sex was all individual, lockable, self-contained cubicles.

Hate to spoil a 'own teh terfs' moment, but it's not just signs.

You are absolutely correct. M&S plus lots of other providers might choose unisex for changing rooms. Many already have. But it’s been done by stealth and increasingly people will notice. Some retailers will realise they can differentiate by having single sex spaces…

As time goes by and the disadvantages might rack up against women, press stories will increase, women might choose to shop in store less or choose retailers who provide SSS. They’ll buy less. Which is unfortunate for retailers as women (esp with families) are the main drivers of retail spending.

I have already been thinking that I’d shift to buying vintage and second hand because of all this nonsense from retailers. If they don’t respect me then I’ll avoid spending my money with them.

I suppose eventually M&S might stop trading clothes - they’re already in trouble on that side of the business. This might be a bit sad but ultimately better for the planet when we stop buying crap we don’t need. I will probably miss Wilco more if I’m honest.

Back in the 1990s the outcry about mixed sex spaces in the 1960s-1970s in the name of progress in the NHS caused huge outcry - people really hate it. In time i predict that’s the sentiment that will emerge again …

If men are being allowed to change in the same space as women, some may take the opportunity to install hidden cameras in the knowledge that the room will be used by women. This may sound far fetched but there are documented cases of these cameras being discovered

Entirely enclosed and private changing rooms make it much easier to install this sort of equipment - once you've closed the door you can get up to whatever you want. Want to stand on a chair and lift up a few ceiling tiles? - no problem. Want to blutack a camera to the underside of the bench? - no problem. Want to stick a camera disguised as a wall socket to the skirting board? - no problem

Making changing rooms mixed sex puts women at greater risk than single sex equivalents. A male predator wondering into a women's single sex changing room is likely to be challenged, the same man has free reign in a mixed sex facility.

Women are disadvantaged by mixed sex facilities and likely more so if the facilities are floor to ceiling private rooms.

Describe these in more detail as to how you think they should be designed.

edit: because if it’s how I think you are imagining them, they are discriminatory.