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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
PhaedraTwo · 09/06/2026 17:38

Pootles34 · 09/06/2026 15:43

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

It really is completely different.

LittleGreenShoots · 09/06/2026 17:38

My John Lewis adverts show me toys mainly. You must have been interacting with 'Muslim' words or phrases lately. Even if in a negative way. You get algorithms tailored to the things you interact with.

Miyagi99 · 09/06/2026 17:37

FlyingWithBingoWings · 09/06/2026 17:34

Who knew that in places like Blackburn where women walk around covered head to toe, that they were simply praying!

Pray as you walk! Pray as you swim! Pray as you sit on the till at Tesco's!

Just Praying. Well, I never. Blackburn must be one of the holiest places on earth...dummy!

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They are probably not wearing their prayer garb out and about but their chador.

catmothertes1 · 09/06/2026 17:37

Lomonald · 09/06/2026 15:25

Did you go looking for it or did it come up on your search/algorithm?

The same came up on Facebook for me yesterday as well.

BauhausOfEliott · 09/06/2026 17:36

Sheldonsheher · 09/06/2026 15:51

Do john Lewis stock nuns outfits too,? I would be surprised if that or any clergy wear popped up on my social media too to be honest.

Nun's habits and 'clergy wear' are uniforms. John Lewis doesn't stock those for the same reason they don't sell police outfits or nurse's tunics: they're workwear uniforms, not

The clothes in your screenshot aren't workwear. They're clothes that some ordinary women choose to wear, for religious or cultural reasons.

Plenty of non-Muslim women, including women with no religion at all, choose to wear clothes that cover up most of their body.

If you'd been shown a picture of a woman in a prairie-style maxi dress with sleeves and a high neck, teamed with a hat, you wouldn't have batted an eyelid. You're just singling this out because it happens to be worn by Muslims.

Johnsmithallenjones · 09/06/2026 17:35

Ridiculous post.

FlyingWithBingoWings · 09/06/2026 17:35

Growlybear83 · 09/06/2026 17:17

Not in all cases. My daughter was born into a predominantly atheist family, with one Baptist and one Catholic grandmother. She chose to convert to Islam when she was 28.

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Was there a man involved?

GimmieABreakOr3 · 09/06/2026 17:34

If people find other people’s choice of clothing depressing, I think you need to get out more!

Goths are a group of people who choose to wear all black.

FlyingWithBingoWings · 09/06/2026 17:34

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Who knew that in places like Blackburn where women walk around covered head to toe, that they were simply praying!

Pray as you walk! Pray as you swim! Pray as you sit on the till at Tesco's!

Just Praying. Well, I never. Blackburn must be one of the holiest places on earth...dummy!

user293948849167 · 09/06/2026 17:33

John Lewis just want money, I doubt they care what it says a about women.

I agree with you though it’s horrible seeing women wearing this stuff, rooted in misogyny and no need at all

BIossomtoes · 09/06/2026 17:31

Netcurtainnelly · 09/06/2026 17:29

How depressing.

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I’m not remotely depressed. I like women being able to buy their clothes of choice from JL.

GimmieABreakOr3 · 09/06/2026 17:31

Lentilcakes · 09/06/2026 17:28

You wouldn’t find a Jewish prayer shawl in John Lewis! That made me laugh.

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Well maybe they ought to start offering this too

Miyagi99 · 09/06/2026 17:31

Netcurtainnelly · 09/06/2026 17:29

How depressing.

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Other colours are available! They’re not all in black if you look at the website.

Netcurtainnelly · 09/06/2026 17:29

Miyagi99 · 09/06/2026 17:20

They wear ankle length robes.

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How depressing.

Lentilcakes · 09/06/2026 17:28

Ginmonkeyagain · 09/06/2026 15:56

It's prayer abaya isn't it - so you slip it on over your other clothes if you want to go to Mosque and pray.

Do you also have issues with mantillas and Jewish prayer shawls as well OP?

You wouldn’t find a Jewish prayer shawl in John Lewis! That made me laugh.

saveforthat · 09/06/2026 17:27

NotAverage · 09/06/2026 17:19

Ah, well you have shown your true colours here. What ignorance!

Some women will be forced to wear it. In Afghanistan, Iran now. But saying that all the women who use the hijab are forced to wear it by men is just stupid.

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You can throw insults about ignorance but that doesn't make you right. I believe their choices are based on culture and upbringing and yes, we have influences in the west too, like women "choose" to shave their legs and wear make up. I believe Islam says men and women should dress modestly. I've never seen a man in one of those.

GimmieABreakOr3 · 09/06/2026 17:27

BigOldBlobsy · 09/06/2026 17:26

^ quite
Some of the people on here who are saying that Islam is the only religion that oppresses women clearly didn’t look at the history of most current religions.

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👌

NotAverage · 09/06/2026 17:27

GimmieABreakOr3 · 09/06/2026 17:23

I know the point you’re making - it’s a business decision - I was simply stating that I like that business decision as a dog owner!

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I know. Many people are definitely team-dog these days!

GimmieABreakOr3 · 09/06/2026 17:27

RumPidgeon · 09/06/2026 17:05

My husband said that but Nike is an international brand - John Lewis is British. Aimed at British clients in the UK.

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Are you saying that because JL is a British brand, that they can only cater and be sold to British people?

Sezane is a French brand that I’ve bought from - along with many other brands from other countries - so what’s your point hun?

BigOldBlobsy · 09/06/2026 17:26

Ginmonkeyagain · 09/06/2026 16:22

Proof that racism makes people lose all critical thinking skills.

^ quite
Some of the people on here who are saying that Islam is the only religion that oppresses women clearly didn’t look at the history of most current religions.

Skinnysaluki · 09/06/2026 17:25

God this thread is dreary, all the islamophobes having a field day even more than usual

GimmieABreakOr3 · 09/06/2026 17:23

NotAverage · 09/06/2026 17:14

That’s not really the point I am making here but ok!

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I know the point you’re making - it’s a business decision - I was simply stating that I like that business decision as a dog owner!

Maray1967 · 09/06/2026 17:21

Sheldonsheher · 09/06/2026 15:50

I don’t know maybe showing my age it’s not what you expect on a random John Lewis advert in the past. Especially as I’m
not in the market for one. I’m not really sure but personally I see it as misogynistic dress to control women. Ok no face cover but everything else is covered.Although seems others don’t agree and feel I am in wrong to even notice it.

I don’t like it either, but department stores sell all sorts of things that pigeonhole or limit women. Stiletto heels hardly further women’s rights either, but lots of women, including me, occasionally, wear them,

Miyagi99 · 09/06/2026 17:20

Netcurtainnelly · 09/06/2026 16:55

That's quite a worrying Picture all in black too. Very drab. Do the men dress like that thought not.

They wear ankle length robes.

NotAverage · 09/06/2026 17:19

saveforthat · 09/06/2026 17:16

Yeah sure.

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Ah, well you have shown your true colours here. What ignorance!

Some women will be forced to wear it. In Afghanistan, Iran now. But saying that all the women who use the hijab are forced to wear it by men is just stupid.

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