Marks & Spencer has reversed a ban on tape measures for bra fittings, a policy that had been introduced following a controversy involving transgender staff assisting female customers. The retailer announced the change, which will allow shoppers to opt for a tape measurement if they prefer, after the original ban led to longer fitting times and customer complaints.
Under the previous policy, shoppers relied on visual estimations and trying on multiple sizes, a process described as time-consuming. The reversal is being seen by some employees as a "victory for common sense."
The initial ban, revealed in May, was widely perceived as a response to comments made by author J.K. Rowling. Rowling, a vocal critic of transgender activism, had called for a boycott of the store in August of the previous year after a shopper reported that a transgender employee offered to measure her 14-year-old daughter for a bra fitting in a changing room.
Rowling had stated on social media that it was inappropriate for the store to "prioritize the wishes of men", referencing a Supreme Court ruling that reaffirmed the right to changing rooms based on biological sex. She suggested that women should "vote with their wallets" if stores continued to disregard rulings on women-only spaces.
Marks & Spencer had previously apologized to the customer involved, asserting that the employee's intention was to offer general assistance rather than to perform a bra fitting. The company had consistently maintained that the subsequent ban on tape measures was unrelated to the incident.
"As the UK's lingerie market leader, we continuously improve our service," a Marks & Spencer spokesperson stated. "We have an expert team of trained bra fitters, and they can use a tape measure if they or the customer prefers this. We have recently communicated this to our colleagues to make this clearer."
