Primark has placed new signs outside its fitting rooms to split them into “Women Only” and “Any Gender” facilities. The new signs read: “These fitting rooms are for Women only. We also have Any Gender fitting rooms available for everyone – please ask.”
It appears that Primark has installed the new signs after criticism last year over its Any Gender changing rooms.
Primark announced it would be scrapping its gender-neutral changing rooms – which had been in place since 2019 – in October 2022.
This was following claims from women who said they didn’t feel safe using these changing rooms.
One woman claimed two men had come in to her fitting room while she was getting changed. After posting a video of herself telling her story online, many other women also took to social media to recall similar tales or fears.
Last year, the fashion retailer said it would keep its gender-neutral facilities while creating new Women Only changing rooms.
As part of the new change, new signs are currently being installed in Primark stores. However, customers have this week expressed their confusion about this. Many seem to want the signs to be made clearer, with some saying they are not inclusive or fair.
Others, though, have praised the retailer and thanked it for the new signs.
Twitter user @SusanMee9 wrote: “Thank you. I don’t know if this sign is new but I was very pleased to see it today. Safe spaces for everyone!”
“The women-only area is for all women and customers are not required to provide identification.
“If someone appears to be deliberately trying to abuse the policy then the store will manage at their discretion. The changes we are introducing are informed by the feedback we have had from customers and colleagues.
“We have taken these steps to try to improve our customer experience whilst using our fitting rooms.”
