Please or to access all these features

Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

M&S says: Men must have outfits to impress – Women must have fancy little knickers

38 replies

stumbledin · 20/11/2018 14:55

This window display was spotted by Feminists in Nottingham www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10156802297720396&set=gm.2185737491438547&type=3&theater&ifg=1

Also shared on twitter by FiLiA twitter.com/FiLiA_charity/status/1064248341763100672

Now picked up by the BBC www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-nottinghamshire-46279172

So far no response by M&S to complaints and comments on their facebook page deleted. Although one lone comment has remained www.facebook.com/MarksandSpencer/posts/10156397616628612?comment_id=10156398451143612&notif_id=1542657948210413&notif_t=feedback_reaction_generic&hc_location=ufi

M&S still haven't responded after 5 days. Any ideas how to get them to apologise and recognise just how disgusting this is?

(facebook down at the moment)

OP posts:
New posts on this thread. Refresh page
NothingOnTellyAgain · 23/11/2018 09:02

"In view of the Irish case Marks are cretins."

Have they commented about this > the timing isn't deliberate but it's fucking unfortunate.
I'm guessing that girls in court after reporting a rape havign their "fancy little knickers" paraded around the court to show that hell yes she wanted it and he should get off (and he does) is something only "some feminists" care about to them.
And maybe they are right.

NothingOnTellyAgain · 23/11/2018 09:00

I did like M&S knickers.
Not the "fancy little" kind but the "comfy and wash well" kind.
Also their non-itchy tights and socks.

I would imagine that these sort of things make up far more of their sales than the "fancy little" kind > if I wanted "fancy little" I wouldn't go to M&S.

They are a bit stupid really, but maybe they sense the pushback against womens progress and are trying to buy into that?

Nothing says "get in your place" like an unwanted set of too-small "fancy little knickers" (of the type that were returned in enormous numbers after xmas when I worked in a dept store).

LunaTheCat · 23/11/2018 05:48

I am not in UK but M and S sells lots knickers. So even if 1/3rd of people are annoyed enough to buy their knickers elsewhere that would have an impact. “No knickers from Marks” campaign.
In view of the Irish case Marks are cretins.

kalinkafoxtrot45 · 23/11/2018 05:29

I think the men are wearing fancy little knickers under their suits.

FrumpyTrumpy · 23/11/2018 05:27

Here's a hint if you don't open the link, the 3rd window not originally shown contained women's "dress to impress" clothing also.

Is there a fourth window where they expect men to wear tiny little pants? It's the "little knickers" bit that is revolting.

FrumpyTrumpy · 23/11/2018 05:23

I've just checked on the NottinghamshireLive site.Poll finds 67% don't find the display offensive

But that means 33% find it offensive. I mean that's not a great marketing strategy is it? Fucking off 1/3 of your customers, and I suspect the 'phoar sexy knickers' demographic wouldn't be caught dead buying them at M&s either. A Christmas display should generally be pretty uncontroversial.

We've got the same display in our town and I wondered wth they were thinking.

Alierepeatedoftenenough · 23/11/2018 00:20

So everyone by now will have seen the 3rd window from the store I am guessing, which put a somewhat different complexion on things?

Link:
www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-nottinghamshire-46279172

The phrasing about the pants is slightly cringey, but unless you hate M&S selling pants, or the object strongly to the fact that underwear like other clothing is sometimes worn happily by humans for visual or sexual appeal, this all looks like some proper selective presentation and makey uppey outrage at this point.

Here's a hint if you don't open the link, the 3rd window not originally shown contained women's "dress to impress" clothing also.

stumbledin · 23/11/2018 00:01

Sorry I see my message echos one above which I didn't see. :)

OP posts:
stumbledin · 22/11/2018 23:53

It seems that M&S are saying it is a national marketing strategy and they dont care about the complaints. I have a sad feeling that they are liking the publicity.

[M&S knickers display 'won't change over feminist concern' www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-nottinghamshire-46291789]

There is a suggestion that some of the Reclaim the Night marches happening over the next few days may take a detour by the local M&S.

OP posts:
EverardDigby · 21/11/2018 21:21

Well they've lost my custom then.

NothingOnTellyAgain · 21/11/2018 17:21

m& s have said fuck you to women who aren't keen:

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-nottinghamshire-46291789

Interestingly DH said he heard about this on the radio and a marketing person was saying that men don't buy underwear for women anywhere near as much as they used to > it's not a big market any more.

So they are alienating lots of women and for what?

M&S core shopper is female I'd have thought why are they pulling out all the stops to appeal to men even knowing they will fuck off a key part of their key purchasing demographic?
Don't get it

Seems like a lot of these orgs aren't just about money after all -
Which is what we were always taught / told
They are political as well
And turn out to be misogynists

hdh747 · 21/11/2018 16:01

I don't actually know how they are still in business. I hadn't shopped there for ages but was given £200 in gift vouchers. I bought underwear, nightwear, some comfy casual day-wear and a few gluten-free food items. I was literally disappointed in everything. I usually buy similar basic clothes items from Asda - where the quality is way better and the cost a lot less. Nothing from M&S felt as nice or washed as well. The gf food was rubbish too. I've been buying similar things from supermarkets for years, never had worse quality and it cost a lot more.

ErrolTheDragon · 21/11/2018 15:44

I got the impression stores were choosing from various options ... probably the management of most of them has more sense than at the Notts branch.

angelwithalariat · 21/11/2018 15:39

My local Marks has women's clothes as the 'outfits to impress' as well - don't know if it's a response to the complaints.

R0wantrees · 21/11/2018 13:41

Large % of the time, underwear as a gift for a woman is actually a gift for the man giving it.

Absolutely

NothingOnTellyAgain · 21/11/2018 13:40

Large % of the time, underwear as a gift for a woman is actually a gift for the man giving it.

How would men feel if we started giving them too-small mankinis for xmas and expecting them to get all excited and grateful?? Grin

R0wantrees · 21/11/2018 12:54

One presumes the vast majority are purchasing the as gifts for the women (adult human females) in their life, of course there may be other males making purchases at this time of year for other recipients, M&S would Im sure be keen to be inclusive in respect of male shoppers regardless of gender identity Grin

NothingOnTellyAgain · 21/11/2018 12:51

If it's aimed at male customers, why are the knickers on female mannquins?

Grin

Sersiusly, I used to work in a department store and after xmas there were lines of women exchanging "fancy little knickers" for stuff that was confy and would fit them.

Leads me to believe that a lot of men are throughless cretins but there you go.

R0wantrees · 21/11/2018 12:44

Radio 4 World at One have just covered this story immediately followed by a segment about how women in Liverpool are being turning to prostitution due to the pressures and failures in Universal credit.
Add into the discussion about the case in Ireland and the appalling treatment of the young woman.

????

its been long recognised that Christmas M&S sales of 'fancy' underwear are primarily aimed at male customers, its a massive feature so too the percentage of returns in the New Year!

DisrespectfulAdultFemale · 21/11/2018 12:43

Good for The Times. And fuck off, Marks and Spencer.

mimivanne · 21/11/2018 00:01

Fizz

Thanks, I enjoyed that

mimivanne · 20/11/2018 22:15

I've just checked on the NottinghamshireLive site.Poll finds 67% don't find the display offensive ,(still open).
Comments (mainly from men) depressing

GraceMarks · 20/11/2018 20:21

There's a thread in AIBU which is overwhelmingly condemnatory. And it's a national marketing strategy, because the M&S near me has exactly the same window display. The wording is taken from the TV campaign, apparently. Doubtless the window dressers don't get any say about the displays, they just use whatever head office sends them.

Swipe left for the next trending thread