Shop Changing Rooms

[Nikk]

I was out shopping with my dad the other day and I buy my clothes solely from the 'mens' section but because I'm not out to him and I get too nervous to use the changing room on that floor I had to go up to the female changing rooms to try them on. As you can imagine the queue outside took about 20 minutes and when I went back downstairs I saw that there was no queue for mens. I proceeded to rant about changing room policies to my dad and he told me to "stop being stupid" and "it's the stores regulations, you need to follow them".

I just don't understand, no matter the sex of a person why does it matter which changing room they're in? There are seperate stalls and store assistants monitering them at all times, so why do those supposed 'regulations' exist? It's not even like changing rooms in sports facilities, you don't get completely naked at any point when trying on clothes in a shop (even though I'm all for being able to choose which changing room/bathroom you use - I was just making the comparison). I really don't understand. Does anyone else think it's unfair? It's not even the fact that I'm non-binary, even when I still identified as cis I thought the seperation was stupid and unneeded.

It's ironic really, I don't feel comfortable in the female changing rooms or sides of the store yet because I never know how mens clothes will fit me and because I'm so small I constantly need to try them on which means putting myself through the mentally painful experience of dealing with the changing rooms and the judging glances of women who think they're so above me. I'm really sorry for the rant and I'm not good with words so this was probably horrible to read, I'm just hoping that someone can relate to how I feel in this kind of situation.

[EchelonHunt]

I can completely understand your anxiety and frustration over the changing rooms.

I have opted out of using the change rooms and tried on a mens shirt in the mens section, I had a full-length black binder on under my t-shirt that looked like a tank top so there were no issues there.

The only time I would go into the change rooms is to try on pants but most of the time, I just buy the pants, try them at home, keep the tags on, if they don't fit, simply just take them back and get the correct size.

As you can see, I found ways to avoid the change rooms hehe

It's ok to rant and it wasn't horrible to read You aren't alone, many can empathise with your struggle.

[Deleted]

Changing rooms. If I went bare, no matter which I was in, they'd have a heart attack.

HAH!

I dont use them. I carry a tape measure, and I make sure there is a return policy. I also try to use the generic bathrooms, I hate bathrooms that are gender specific.

But yeah, and post away my dear, I'm too heavy on the boards, we need new threads, and there is no judging or limiting or anything on the content.

Enjoy

-Trinity

[Leena]

I've seen a few single person changing rooms at smaller stores. The vast majority aren't like that, and many have really thin doors, sometimes louvered, that don't really lock. While I'd like to see better options, I usually just buy without trying on. Most stores will take returns if you leave the tags on and have the receipt.

[Taka]

i use the men's changing rooms when shopping in the men's section. and whatever changing rooms i find in a men's clothing store. nobody ever cared, particularly not the staff.

if a guy walks in on you and thinks you're a girl, he'll usually be too embarrassed to mention it, and would normally pretend he saw nothing. not that this has happened to me at a store. but some guy got a full front view of me in the nude not long ago, by a chance that could have been avoided if i'd just thought about where i was standing in the shower room. shouldn't have happened, was never mentioned.

i'm very female bodied, in case you don't know.