Primark has introduced gender neutral changing rooms in two of their stores.
It means everyone gets changed in the same area without it being separated by gender.
The first unisex changing rooms are part of new stores at Bluewater in Kent and Hastings, Sussex, but separated changing rooms will remain at the rest of their stores.
They made the decision after the brand was criticised by some transgender customers, who said that they have been challenged when using changing rooms in Primark.
Although it will hopefully make trans customers more comfortable, there has been a backlash online from people who said that more needs to be done to improve privacy in the unisex cubicles.
The new changing rooms have cubicles with curtains, and many have suggested that doors would be better.
Oh my goodness so @Primark have changing rooms that men and women use…I would not be happy to try clothing on my daughters or myself knowing a man is opposite or next door.Just curtains too not even doors!This has put me right off!They will see more returns this way I’m sure!
— Jerri lee (@missjerrilee) March 16, 2019
@Primark disgusted at introduction of gender neutral changing rooms @ bluewater. Women should not be made to feel unsafe when shopping. You don’t even have doors so any man can walk in on us changing – so wrong 😡 will be boycotting!
— Alaina (@BabziJo) March 17, 2019
@primark I would genuinely prefer a transgender person to use the changing room they wish to use, be it male or female, than you only offer customers mixed changing areas. It’s not the trans people I am uncomfortable with, it’s sharing with a load of men. Booo from me!
— Jerri lee (@missjerrilee) March 17, 2019
Others however, said that the changing rooms are a good idea and added that it would be helpful for people with a disability who need their partners to help them try on clothes.
I am really happy to hear that @primark have swapped to gender neutral changing rooms – as a disabled couple we often need to help each other try clothes on & need to accompany each other into changing rooms. We can't always do that in some stores. It depends on the staff.
— Heather @ Just Geeking By (@JustGeekingBy) March 17, 2019
H&M's are gender neutral. Uniqlo's are gender neutral. Supermarket ones are gender neutral. Why on earth is it an issue that Primark has joined the 21st century?
— Ed Jennings (@Ed_Jennings) March 16, 2019
The move comes after Topshop announced all their changing rooms would be gender neutral in 2017.
A Primark spokesperson said: ‘It has been our policy for some time that all customers are welcome to use the fitting rooms of their choice in our stores.
‘As part of our latest in-store design, non-gendered fitting rooms, which are commonplace in retail and other markets in which we operate, have been introduced in our new Bluewater and Hastings stores.’
MORE: HIIPA is the effective workout you could actually stick to