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Original poster

AIBU to question John Lewis advert and its message about women?

310 replies

Sheldonsheher · 09/06/2026 15:19

John Lewis pushing this advert on my social media. Do they support oppression of women or is this a symbol of women’s right to choose .

AIBU to question John Lewis advert and its message about women?
OP posts:
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6
Scrumptiousy · 09/06/2026 16:27

It came up “randomly” based on your algorithms.

I dread to think what your search history had been.

Yournextdoorneighbour · 09/06/2026 16:26

I'm Muslim and I wouldn't buy that - not for any other reason other that it is over priced compared to what I would use it for and what others retailers offer it for. I love a good bargain me! And I have many of these items of clothing both for prayer purposes and sometimes to wear to social events, ie funerals and the mosque etc. This is a choice by the way - as no man in my life dare tell me how to dress.

For context every friend of mine who is Muslim and wears the hijab and niqab is due to their own personal choice. I mean one friend in particular is single by choice and has chosen to wear this as her dedication to her religion. I just love LOVE the assumption that women are forced into these choices.

tiramisugelato · 09/06/2026 16:25

tingalings · 09/06/2026 16:14

None of those religions oppress women .

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Are you deluded? 😂

Ginmonkeyagain · 09/06/2026 16:25

Indeed, Muslim men tend to wear a thobe or long shirt and a prayer cap.

ScholesPanda · 09/06/2026 16:25

It's a shop. It's sells things that it thinks people want.

Shops like to pretend they care (yay, we support Pride; Ooo this down was ethically plucked), but they only care about the things they think we care about and will make us want to buy from them.

I actually find John Lewis more conservative than most- at least you can still get a nativity set or vaguely religious Christmas decorations there. And it looks after it's employees better than many retailers do.

Britain has a large Muslim population, a lot of whom live in the big cities where John Lewis has its stores. They also have money, just like you. So some canny buyer at John Lewis has thought 'rather than having them spend their money in a little specialist place, let's see if we can get them to spend it in John Lewis- and as they leave with their new clothes let's try and sell them a lipstick and a candle too'.

It probably came up in your Facebook feed because it's gone slightly viral and is getting lots of comments and angry faces. So Facebook wanted to see if you'd like to put an angry face too. And it wasn't wrong was it? Clever little algorithm.

Lomonald · 09/06/2026 16:23

HermioneWeasley · 09/06/2026 15:49

It is completely different. nuns are a religious order, no ordinary catholic women wear the equivalent. This is every day wear for lots of women and of course it’s oppressive- no men are wearing it. Millions of women around the world are forced to wear it or die

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Muslim men cover themselves up to pray they have a dress code,

Ginmonkeyagain · 09/06/2026 16:22

Proof that racism makes people lose all critical thinking skills.

BIossomtoes · 09/06/2026 16:21

Ginmonkeyagain · 09/06/2026 16:21

Loving the "Catholicism and Judaism doesn't oppress women" opinion - that's wild!

Isn’t it?

Ginmonkeyagain · 09/06/2026 16:21

Loving the "Catholicism and Judaism doesn't oppress women" opinion - that's wild!

LBFseBrom · 09/06/2026 16:19

Right to choose, the model does not have a niqab.

emuloc · 09/06/2026 16:18

tingalings · 09/06/2026 16:14

None of those religions oppress women .

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Interesting...

Passaggressfedup · 09/06/2026 16:16

None of those religions oppress women

Whatever your views on different religion, it is totally irrelevant when it comes to selling clothing that is in demand.

BIossomtoes · 09/06/2026 16:15

tingalings · 09/06/2026 16:14

None of those religions oppress women .

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Seriously? 😧

TheignT · 09/06/2026 16:15

NewGoldFox · 09/06/2026 16:08

Not In Afghanistan.

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Is there a JL branch in Afghanistan? I wonder how much stuff is bought online from JL is Afghanistan.

emuloc · 09/06/2026 16:14

GhostsJulianforPrimeMinister · 09/06/2026 16:04

I’m shocked about the amount saying you are being unreasonable. Personally I think it is inappropriate to advertise such a regressive practice and women wringing their hands about what is clearly a step back a modern culture is depressing.

They sound pretty clued up to me. The OP did not even know what type of garment it is before rushing to post in a negative way about it. Does she have a problem with other religious clothing, I wonder.🤔

Dweetfidilove · 09/06/2026 16:14

Major retailer sells items that may broaden their customer base. Whatever next?
This post reminds me of a lunatic I saw on IG last week ranting and raving about Lululemon selling bhurkinis, I believe.
Well, of course they do! Companies sell what customers require.

tingalings · 09/06/2026 16:14

Passaggressfedup · 09/06/2026 16:13

Do you also have issues with mantillas and Jewish prayer shawls as well OP?
Or jewelry with a cross?

None of those religions oppress women .

BIossomtoes · 09/06/2026 16:13

NewGoldFox · 09/06/2026 16:08

Not In Afghanistan.

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Does John Lewis ship to Afghanistan now?

tingalings · 09/06/2026 16:13

muddyford · 09/06/2026 15:58

I have spent a lot of time with Franciscan friars (and Benedictine monks, but less so). They would slip their habits on over their gardening clothes, for example, for the offices in the chapel. Several secular (i.e. non-monastic) orders for lay people have prayer tunics or similar.

what an interesting life!

That is not the same however as what Muslim women are made to wear by men.

Passaggressfedup · 09/06/2026 16:13

Do you also have issues with mantillas and Jewish prayer shawls as well OP?
Or jewelry with a cross?

tingalings · 09/06/2026 16:12

musicalfrog · 09/06/2026 15:31

They don't offer single sex changing rooms either. So no, they don't really support women's rights at all.

Really?
All the branches I've been do including their flagship Oxford st branch.

Which stores have you found they allow men?

Chlorpool · 09/06/2026 16:11

Pootles34 · 09/06/2026 15:43

Do you have a problem with nuns wearing the habit, OP? This is really no different.

Very few nuns wear habits and haven't done since the 70's.
And yes it's very different because nuns choose their path in life unlike the girls who are taught from a young age that they must cover their bodies up.

ImImmortalNowBabyDoll · 09/06/2026 16:10

Clothes shops sell the clothes that people are likely to pay money to buy.

They don't make value judgements about the moral value of the clothes.

If you don't want to wear an item of clothing, I suggest you don't buy it.

Ginmonkeyagain · 09/06/2026 16:10

@GhostsJulianforPrimeMinister I am not Muslim and nor do I agree with any restrictions on what women wear. I do however believe women should have the freedom to wear what they want, including stuff I may not like or approve of.

I have actually worn a prayer abaya at the mosque part of a good friend's wedding (we wore them over our wedding clothes and then took them off for the more social part).

I am still, amazingly, a fully independent woman unaffected by wearing religious dress to respect my friend's culture.

NewGoldFox · 09/06/2026 16:08

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Not In Afghanistan.

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