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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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Pipsquiggle · 10/06/2026 09:03

GimmieABreakOr3 · 10/06/2026 08:56

I find this thread deeply depressing. Are you really all that concerned about Muslim women and their potential oppression, or are you really just bothered by the fact that the burka is being sold by a popular British retailer? It’s just racism concealed by moral superiority. That’s what it is. This thread stinks!

Completely agree @GimmieABreakOr3

This thread is thinly veiled racism.

CandidLurker · 10/06/2026 08:59

LizardLore · 09/06/2026 15:30

I find this hard to believe tbh, unless their algorithm is truly bust.

I’ve seen it too. It could just be one of their better selling items?

GimmieABreakOr3 · 10/06/2026 08:56

I find this thread deeply depressing. Are you really all that concerned about Muslim women and their potential oppression, or are you really just bothered by the fact that the burka is being sold by a popular British retailer? It’s just racism concealed by moral superiority. That’s what it is. This thread stinks!

AllaFieraDellEst · 10/06/2026 08:12

Pootles34 · 09/06/2026 15:43

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

No it's very different.

Nuns dress the way they do in order to show their love and respect for god. Habits are hardly worn these days, they are quite anachronistic. I spend a lot of time in Rome, my Jewish mother in law lives right by the Vatican, and you never see a single wimple.

The hijab and adjacent modesty clothing is worn by Muslim women so they are not sexualised by Muslim men. And they don't have a choice, for the most part.

TY78910 · 10/06/2026 07:56

Pipsquiggle · 10/06/2026 05:33

@Sheldonsheher why are you specifically calling out JL?
M&S have this kind of clothing as does Next. I am sure there are other mainstream shops as well.
Have you actually spoken to any Muslim women about their clothes or how they feel about wearing them?

Like the Muslim posters at the beginning of the thread that got told they’re wrong! 😂

50sandFabulous · 10/06/2026 07:38

ImImmortalNowBabyDoll · 09/06/2026 23:39

By you. Not by everyone. It's not up to you to tell other women what statement they are making, unless they've said so.

But we ALL know that the hijab, and other garments of that ilk, were invented by MEN for women to wear. No woman who lives in the Middle East, where temperatures are searingly hot, would choose to wear a heavy BLACK garment, that covers her from head to toe, covering even the mouth and nose making it hard to breathe, and cope with the sun beating down on them, and being absorbed by the black cloth.

The MEN didn't even have the kindness to make the material white, to reflect the sun. No woman is choosing this, it was invented by men, and forced onto women. Any woman protesting otherwise has been indoctrinated and possibly brainwashed.

Look at photo's of women in Iran in the 1970's......not one of them wore a hijab. They wore clothes just like ours. Then, in 1983, thanks to Ayatollah Khomeini, it became legally mandatory for all women to wear the hijab, and any women refusing to do so could be fined or imprisoned. This is the oppression of women at it's worst. And as we all now know, that was just the beginning. Women now cannot be educated, or leave their homes without a chaperone. They aren't even allowed to sing in their own homes.

Women in the West should push back against such tyranny, not support it.

Miyagi99 · 10/06/2026 06:27

CaptainMyCaptain · 09/06/2026 19:59

The clothes I tend to wear could probably be described as modest. It's my choice and what I find comfortable. Nobody tells me what I should wear.

Mine too! Loose fitting and long, especially when it gets warmer as I don’t want to get my arms out or slather myself in suncream!

Pipsquiggle · 10/06/2026 05:33

Sheldonsheher · 09/06/2026 22:29

lol can’t wait.

reminds me actually when John Lewis had their own brand all unisex children’s clothes when my kids were younger. No gender labelling allowed.
I guess they do love a bandwagon.

Edited

@Sheldonsheher why are you specifically calling out JL?
M&S have this kind of clothing as does Next. I am sure there are other mainstream shops as well.
Have you actually spoken to any Muslim women about their clothes or how they feel about wearing them?

ImImmortalNowBabyDoll · 09/06/2026 23:39

Sheldonsheher · 09/06/2026 22:33

Yes obviously but this traditional dress is commonly associated with patriarchy.

By you. Not by everyone. It's not up to you to tell other women what statement they are making, unless they've said so.

Sheldonsheher · 09/06/2026 22:33

ImImmortalNowBabyDoll · 09/06/2026 22:31

There are controlling men everywhere and in all cultures. People are controlling, not bits of cloth.

Yes obviously but this traditional dress is commonly associated with patriarchy.

OP posts:
ImImmortalNowBabyDoll · 09/06/2026 22:31

Sheldonsheher · 09/06/2026 21:42

There was literally a post earlier this week where someone said her husband is divorcing her if she doesn’t where the hijab in the uk.

There are controlling men everywhere and in all cultures. People are controlling, not bits of cloth.

Sheldonsheher · 09/06/2026 22:29

Skinnysaluki · 09/06/2026 21:53

That’s the Christmas ad for this year. There is an acoustic weedy version of some Oasis song over the top of it, and a penguin

lol can’t wait.

reminds me actually when John Lewis had their own brand all unisex children’s clothes when my kids were younger. No gender labelling allowed.
I guess they do love a bandwagon.

OP posts:
Skinnysaluki · 09/06/2026 21:53

Cioccoholic · 09/06/2026 21:46

Looking forward to the day JL has the courage to do this advert with a trans woman in the prayer outfit!

That’s the Christmas ad for this year. There is an acoustic weedy version of some Oasis song over the top of it, and a penguin

Cioccoholic · 09/06/2026 21:46

Looking forward to the day JL has the courage to do this advert with a trans woman in the prayer outfit!

Sheldonsheher · 09/06/2026 21:42

ImImmortalNowBabyDoll · 09/06/2026 21:37

They aren't choosing it. They are legally forced to wear it. I know many people who choose to wear hijab because we live in a society where women are (supposedly) allowed to choose how they dress. Whether they choose scrunch bum leggings or abayas is no-one else's business.

There was literally a post earlier this week where someone said her husband is divorcing her if she doesn’t where the hijab in the uk.

OP posts:
BIossomtoes · 09/06/2026 21:42

CaptainMyCaptain · 09/06/2026 21:04

Do people just trot out 'internalised misogyny' when someone has a different opinion?

Frequently.

ImImmortalNowBabyDoll · 09/06/2026 21:37

Sheldonsheher · 09/06/2026 21:29

But disingenuous suggesting adult women are choosing to where the burka. So many liberated women in Afghanistan by that logic.

the reason of being surprised by the advert, is to me this is not neutral clothing garment but a political symbol which to me represent oppression of women. Ok may have made sense in the desert but now it’s just away to control women.

Edited

They aren't choosing it. They are legally forced to wear it. I know many people who choose to wear hijab because we live in a society where women are (supposedly) allowed to choose how they dress. Whether they choose scrunch bum leggings or abayas is no-one else's business.

Sheldonsheher · 09/06/2026 21:29

ImImmortalNowBabyDoll · 09/06/2026 21:21

Adult women are "allowed" to wear exactly whatever they want, whether that's scrunch bum leggings or a burka, and the fact so many people think they get a say on who is "oppressed", who is "depressing" and who is doing what for the "male gaze" is ridiculous. Put clothes on your body and let other people put clothes on their body. You don't have to like what they wear but not every item, from a baby doll dress to a hijab, needs to be treated like a political statement to go to war with. Women wearing what they want to wear should not be rare enough to be interesting.

But disingenuous suggesting adult women are choosing to where the burka. So many liberated women in Afghanistan by that logic.

the reason of being surprised by the advert, is to me this is not neutral clothing garment but a political symbol which to me represent oppression of women. Ok may have made sense in the desert but now it’s just away to control women.

OP posts:
ImImmortalNowBabyDoll · 09/06/2026 21:21

CaptainMyCaptain · 09/06/2026 21:05

Muslim women are also allowed to do this with their husbands. They just don't walk about in scrunch bum leggings..

Adult women are "allowed" to wear exactly whatever they want, whether that's scrunch bum leggings or a burka, and the fact so many people think they get a say on who is "oppressed", who is "depressing" and who is doing what for the "male gaze" is ridiculous. Put clothes on your body and let other people put clothes on their body. You don't have to like what they wear but not every item, from a baby doll dress to a hijab, needs to be treated like a political statement to go to war with. Women wearing what they want to wear should not be rare enough to be interesting.

TY78910 · 09/06/2026 21:11

Lomonald · 09/06/2026 20:05

But your arms and legs will be covered your shape is hidden you can wear your chunky boots or trainers if you want. You can go about your day thinking you look great and not for the "male gaze" they might not be marketing as modest dress but that is what most of them are.

I must’ve missed the part of M&S’ marketing where they said this was a modest piece of clothing. According to the screenshot it is quite literally called a prayer set. A specific item, sold for a specific purpose.

CaptainMyCaptain · 09/06/2026 21:05

ImImmortalNowBabyDoll · 09/06/2026 20:47

Adult women wearing clothing designed for the titillation of their male partners during sex is not misogyny. Women are allowed to have sex, to enjoy sex and also to want their partners to enjoy sex. They are even allowed to dress with the express intention of turning their sexual partners on.

Muslim women are also allowed to do this with their husbands. They just don't walk about in scrunch bum leggings..

CaptainMyCaptain · 09/06/2026 21:04

50sandFabulous · 09/06/2026 20:27

Omg how snow flake can you get? There’s no bullying here. Do people just trot out this shit when they can’t think of a worthwhile response? Jesus!

Do people just trot out 'internalised misogyny' when someone has a different opinion?

50sandFabulous · 09/06/2026 20:50

ImImmortalNowBabyDoll · 09/06/2026 20:47

Adult women wearing clothing designed for the titillation of their male partners during sex is not misogyny. Women are allowed to have sex, to enjoy sex and also to want their partners to enjoy sex. They are even allowed to dress with the express intention of turning their sexual partners on.

Exactly!

ImImmortalNowBabyDoll · 09/06/2026 20:50

50sandFabulous · 09/06/2026 20:48

Chastity not poverty 😂

Both, actually. "Catholic nuns (and religious sisters) swear a vow of poverty. Along with vows of chastity and obedience, it is one of the three core promises they make."

50sandFabulous · 09/06/2026 20:48

Pootles34 · 09/06/2026 20:33

No because nuns swear a vow of poverty. Maybe Primark might be interested...

Chastity not poverty 😂