Marks and Spencer support new Hooters in Bristol, #2

I got a late but quite genuine-sounding letter reply from my MP, Roberta Blackman-Woods, re Hooters. She says that she will be 'available to assist with any objections to the chain's expansion in the North East'.

Good for her. If anyone hears about a north east branch and mentions it here, I will write to her again. She has already had some success in getting planning processes for 'sexual entertainment venues' modified, with the result that we were spared a lapdancig club in my town.

I see where you're going with that E&M but I'm not going to bite.

Did find a review though:

whatshotinbristol.com/?p=659

Busier than Pizza Express apparently. Must be the novelty value.

Btw, how is the boycott going? Y'all managing without Marks & Sparks sensible pants and overpriced ready meals?

Shouldn't Hooters actually eschew human servers altogether?

How about I open up a Chinese themed restaurant and only hire people of Chinese ethnic origin, or an Indian themed restaurant...

That would be great if you could Treats.

It seems even the EHRC isn't bothered if it's "just" women.

Yes - can't see the problem with that. As long as it's part of your BRAND, then it's not discriminatory.

Another MNer emailed me with suggestions to put in the response and suggested that I copy in Lynn Featherstone. It strikes me as a good idea to write to her directly as the Equalities Minister, as she's been quite vocal recently about the effect on young women of the images they're subjected to, etc.

I'm thinking of opening an Aryan themed bar, blonde blue-eyed waiting staff only. We can have nazi memorabilia on the walls (nothing nasty, just stuff about the master race). Do you think the EHRC will give me the nod?

Thanks for that, Treats. Think it's worth pursuing but not quite sure how at the moment! Will get back to you on this one.

Yes, SmallClanger, 30 was hardly a huge crowd! The place is huge & I think they have been very optimistic in their prediction of customers. But we'll see.

Our panel discussion was last night and was very well attended (lots more than 30 people!) and went very well. I did a short presentation on Hooters with images and quotes so that people could judge for themselves if Hooters was family friendly. I used Mike's quote from here about "bitches with big tits" so thanks for that, Mike! That and another got gasps when they appeared on screen.

Gosh David - yes you were right all along and we're just a bunch of silly girls who should just shut up and listen to what we're being told by the Adults.

(now will you go away?)

My goodness, it seems that the EHRC agree with me! Who'd 'ave thought it?

Of course, Hooters may have infiltrated/corrupted the EHRC, as well as the Evening Post, the Council ...

Jess, I read the local rag article you posted. Buried in there is an interesting statistic - apparently there were only 30 customers for the lunchtime service the day the reporter went in?
Surely, for a just-opened restaurant that has been heavily and expensively promoted, that's really, really low?

V. v. v. depressing response from the EHRC on the Hooters Nottingham ad

"As you may know, the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) is working to eliminate discrimination on the protected grounds of age, disability, race, religion and belief, gender, sexual orientation, marriage and civil partnership and pregnancy and maternity. The EHRC also has a mandate to promote understanding of the Human Rights Act.

As part of our statutory powers, the EHRC can take enforcement action against an organisation who may be in breach of the Equality Act 2010. This includes in respect of employment arrangements which could amount to an unlawful act; such as the publication of an advertisement which suggests that an employer may discriminate.

An employer who indicates an intention to discriminate on the grounds of gender in a job advertisement could be acting unlawfully. For your information, Section 39 of the Equality Act covers discrimination against employees and applicants:

39 Employees and applicants

(1) An employer (A) must not discriminate against a person (B)
(a) in the arrangements A makes for deciding to whom to offer employment;
(b) as to the terms on which A offers B employment;
(c) by not offering B employment.

However, The Equality Act 2010 also contains an exemption which explains that section 39 does not apply where being of a particular gender in order to fulfil a job role is an occupational requirement and, whilst having regard to the nature or context of the work, applying the requirement is a proportionate means of reaching a legitimate aim (Schedule 9 Part 1).

In this instance we consider that the above exception may be applicable. This is because the Hooters brand is based on the serving of food and drink by female members of staff. (my italics)

Ultimately, it is for the courts to decide whether the law has been broken, but it is our view that it is unlikely to be the case here. As a result we feel it would not be appropriate to take further action."

Talk about not seeing the wood for the trees! The only reason they're not breaking equality law as it's being interpreted here is because they've made the oppression and exploitation of women part of their brand!!!!

can anyone help me draft a response to this email?

Well, they still haven't published my comment. I'm quite disappointed as it was nothing like the comments referred to here -
nohootersinbristol.blogspot.com/2010/10/sneering-ill-informed-factually.html

This post got me thinking. Notohootersinbristol complains about anonymous comments, yet post behind a pseudonym. The allegation that press coverage is paid for by Hooters is completely unsubstantiated. We can all play that game - I could suggest that some of the more outrageous anonymous comments aimed against the campaign were actually made in support of it in order to embarrass Hooters.

It's also interesting that the no to Hooters petition is cited as some sort of barometer of public opinion on the issue. Yet the Bristol Hooters Facebook account* has nearly 2000 friends.

Perhaps the Evening Post, like most local rags, has simply seen which way public opinion is swaying on this issue and has decided to back the winner. I know this doesn't fit with the paranoid victim mentality, but it just might be the truth.

• note that this is a personal account, not a page or group - check clause 4 in the Facebook terms of use. Don't say I never give you anything!

My comment is still in the moderation queue

How lovely...this is the latest comment on the EP website.

^ "I think it's great that girls with nice enowments [sic] can serve me a beer.. And when they do, I'll be taking a long hard look at them..
I'm sure they understand the purpose of their role within such an establishment"^

Robert, Bristol on the Bristol Evening Post website

And the "girls" (who look heartbreakingly young in the photos) are being sold the rhetoric of empowerment here.

Someone took Paul Macartney's rhyme scheme too seriously, it seems.

I like it, it sounds like we have a lot of zoom and plenty of power, and we can do air surveillance and swoop down on wrongdoers.

And after the news today, the RAF will be begging us to help them out.

I didn't pick up on that. Tending to skim read over the more moronic comments.

And what exactly is a "theme pun"? Does that mean that they're dressing misogyny up as irony and then calling it a "theme"?

I can't believe people are actually falling for this rubbish!

When you're a sufrajet, you're a sufrajet to the end.

I was just reading the comments on the article (I know - never read the comments but I needed a chuckle after lunch) and my favourite has to be the reference to the 'sufrajets' - love it!

great choice of battles Jess.
key issue to fight on re stopping the objectification of women.
where's the JustGiving link for your sponsored walk for Rape Crisis David?

I have no respect for people who just witter and don't do anything constructive themselves.

"Sakura, don't you ever wonder if it might be better to choose your battles more carefully?" - David, don't you ever wonder if your should take your concern (as in "concern troll") and use it for that Rape Crisis sponsored walk I suggested on the other thread?

I'm worried that you're using up so much precious David-time on us ungrateful laydeez

Why? Why should I choose my battles? Why should I manipulate and negotiate just to get something that is fair and right ? As was said earlier, if this was YOurAnus FAmily cafe, the greying men on the board would find that offensive enough to make sure it didn't get passed, just because ...

(totally OT now - but David, there are all sorts of circus skills type groups that'll teach kids to hula, if they can't manage to figure it out for themselves! One of the home ed camps we go to does circus skills and a fire show -including hulahoop with flames on- at the end of the week :) )

I see Jess has got here first again.

Loved this quote from the owner:

"Hooters is all about girl power and confidence. Hooters girls have a great time and they make sure customers have a great time as well.

"We have a good mix of staff and customers ? both male and female. Parents with children come here as well and have a great time. Where else can a child go and be taught to hula?"

Well, come on then, where?

Sakura, don't you ever wonder if it might be better to choose your battles more carefully?