Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Disgusted at this advertisement on a bus (photo included)

284 replies

Kerry71 · 13/08/2025 18:05

Does anyone else find this imagery completely inappropriate in this day and age, or am I a prude as my husband so kindly put it? It unnecessarily objectifies women and I thought we’d moved on from this sort of thing.

Disgusted at this advertisement on a bus (photo included)
OP posts:
Thread gallery
7
CarefulN0w · 13/08/2025 18:53

NewYorkSummer · 13/08/2025 18:35

Jilly Cooper novels spring to mind!

Show quote history

I’m thinking Jackie Collins. If she ever wrote about Double-Deckers in Doncaster that is.

I agree OP - it’s a surprising choice.

Anchorage56 · 13/08/2025 18:51

Kerry71 · 13/08/2025 18:49

My mood probably isn’t helped by the fact that when I posted this on my towns Facebook group asking what on earth the bus company were thinking with this, the replies were mainly from men. One charmer replied ‘they are probably thinking cracking legs, I wonder what her t**ts look like’ 🙄

I don't agree with that man's particular reply but I can see why people took the piss of your complaint about this poster.

Original poster
Kerry71 · 13/08/2025 18:49

My mood probably isn’t helped by the fact that when I posted this on my towns Facebook group asking what on earth the bus company were thinking with this, the replies were mainly from men. One charmer replied ‘they are probably thinking cracking legs, I wonder what her t**ts look like’ 🙄

OP posts:
PencilsInSpace · 13/08/2025 18:49

mumofoneAloneandwell · 13/08/2025 18:06

I dont think so, i think its fine tbh, its just a pair of legs

It does look like an old advert though, like maybe its been there a while

its just a pair of legs

That's precisely the issue. It's part of the same old 'headless women' phenomenon.

https://www.collectiveshout.org/headless_women_corporates_who_profit_from_dehumanisation

SisterMarie · 13/08/2025 18:48

Im the strictest Mormon you'll come across and im very prudish. Even i dont find it offensive 😅 just legs

Anchorage56 · 13/08/2025 18:48

nocoolnamesleft · 13/08/2025 18:29

I would assume that only women in high heels had to stay seated, so as a woman who likes sensible shoes I'd be fine to stand. Or is that not the intended message?

🤣 no that's not the message.

Spookyspaghetti · 13/08/2025 18:46

I know which bus you’ve seen this on. It is a really old safety poster not an advert. It is basically suggesting that if you stand up before your stop (in high heels!) you might fall and get hurt. Yes, it’s very old fashioned. Just write to or message the company and say ‘do you know you still have these old signs up, and don’t you think it’s time to take them down or swap for something else.’

At least they have a policy of not moving until people have sat down/waiting until people get off. I’ve been in some parts of the country where you can’t struggle down the isle with a toddler before they zoom off without letting you off because they don’t want to wait.

MJ1980 · 13/08/2025 18:46

Honestly, as a woman, i dont see a problem with this/does not cause me any offence

Anchorage56 · 13/08/2025 18:45

SoScarletItWas · 13/08/2025 18:10

I think using and objectifying women to sell stuff is the very definition of sexism. Don’t get me started on why it absolutely HAD TO BE a pair of high heels and a mini skirt to make the point.

edit for typo

Edited
Show quote history

If you have a normal pencil skirt sitting down it can go above the knees, it doesnt look to me like it has to be a mini skirt. The advert reminds me of a professional female worker.

Skybluepinky · 13/08/2025 18:43

It’s just work wear, no idea why you are so insulted. Would you rather it was a photo of a man?

Athreedoorwardrobe · 13/08/2025 18:42

I'm also willing to bet money that this is part of a series of posters depicting different people's legs. There's very likely one on another bus of someone in trainers or a kid in sandals or whatever.. thats how these types of posters usually are.
For example on multiple buses round my area you'll see pictures of different people looking happy they've bought a dayrider. On one bus it might be an elderly man, in another a smartly dressed woman implied she's going to work, a woman in a hijab, you get the picture...same bus company but the thinking is everyone gets to see themselves represented.
And whether you like it or not some people using buses probably are wearing heels and probably could use being told to remain seated until the bus stops.

MemorableTrenchcoat · 13/08/2025 18:37

It's just a pair of legs, we've all, well most of us have, got 'em. If it depicted a really short skirt showing a lot of thigh, that might be different, but it's not.

Athreedoorwardrobe · 13/08/2025 18:35

What are you on about? Its just someone's legs.. it's you who are being weird and unnecessarily sexual.
I mean what do you think when you see women in heels with bare legs out and about? Do you think it's disgusting sexualisation? I mean honestly.. you need therapy.

NewYorkSummer · 13/08/2025 18:35

JohnTheRevelator · 13/08/2025 18:07

Looks like something from the 1980s!

Jilly Cooper novels spring to mind!

goldtrap · 13/08/2025 18:34

Does anyone else find this imagery completely inappropriate in this day and age

implying that it was appropriate back in the day?

JLou08 · 13/08/2025 18:32

It's just a pair of legs. Mainly calves. It's not inappropriate.

ExpressCheckout · 13/08/2025 18:32

Yes, but those people from the 80s do keep getting up on the bus. I'd wish they'd just sit down, like us from the 70s 🙄

JackGrealishsBobbySocks · 13/08/2025 18:30

I couldn't give a fucking fuck.

I swear this country is being overrun by the most ridiculous wave of prudishness.

Mrsmunchofmunchington · 13/08/2025 18:30

I feel like that advert has travelled through a worm hole.

ginasevern · 13/08/2025 18:30

It does look old fashioned but I think it's using high heels to get the message across. Perhaps I'm being naive though.

nocoolnamesleft · 13/08/2025 18:29

I would assume that only women in high heels had to stay seated, so as a woman who likes sensible shoes I'd be fine to stand. Or is that not the intended message?

mrsembarassed69 · 13/08/2025 18:28

JohnTheRevelator · 13/08/2025 18:07

Looks like something from the 1980s!

I was thinking this. It almost makes me laugh!

Disturbia81 · 13/08/2025 18:24

Yeah it feels a bit too “lets use sexy woman to promote this”

Dangermoo · 13/08/2025 18:24

It's like a throw back to the 80s. Of course women, wearing stilettos are far more susceptible to falling over, on a bus. Patronising and yes, sexual objectification. I agree with you, OP.

Indianajet · 13/08/2025 18:22

I wouldn't even̈ have thought about it.