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Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

Boycott JL and Waitrose? : James Esses' latest Substack on John Lewis LGBTQIA++ 'Identity' mag

289 replies

PersephoneSeethes · 15/02/2024 18:31

I saw it this afternoon on Twitter and read the article with utter horror.

I was hoping it would be uplifting stories about people being accepted and living full lives

John Lewis and Waitrose are seemingly actively promoting and policing
pronoun usage by colleagues, Stasi-style. This seems like it is a court case, a-la-Forstater, waiting to happen.

They have an article about 'raising non-binary and transgender children', not from an information position in case Partners come across such families in their stores, but with a heavy activist slant.

I think I have finally been pushed to the edge with this beloved company. I can no longer shop with them, and I shop at Waitrose every week for our main shop, have done for over a decade.

This is a real gut punch because I believe in what Waitrose does, or used to do: they pay their farmers better, their animal welfare is better, their shops don't have the bright lights and loud noises that set off my migraines and irritate family members autistic temperaments. But as someone who grew up a tomboy, and would have been thrown under the gender bus by Stonewall and all the other organisations if I had been a child today, I can't stand by and accept all this nonsense.

OP posts:
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WhiteVelvet · 02/03/2024 20:32

I’ll stop shopping with them and stick to Aldi.

I used to work for them when I was young. I find it hard to conceive how far they have fallen from the great company they once were.

That ffing woman. Someone get rid of her fgs!!!

IcakethereforeIam · 01/03/2024 20:54

WookeyHole · 19/02/2024 22:31

Latest. How "inclusive" of everyone's opinions.

Well, if they were high that explains everything.

Runningwildish · 01/03/2024 20:52

FourChimneys · 17/02/2024 19:56

In the past I have spent between £50 and £100 at Waitrose on a Saturday. Today I shopped at Aldi and just went to Waitrose to use the toilet. To be fair they are cleaner than the public ones in town. To justify my visit I bought a solitary mushroom and paid with a £10 note.

Are there stickers we can decorate the toilet walls with?

I stopped going to JL when they started welcoming dogs in to piss and snuffle on their goods.

One of my neighbours is a typical middle aged Waitrose checkout woman. I must ask her what she thinks of the magazine. If it was paper rather than digital I expect she's using it to line her cat's litter tray.

LWS and Wild wymen workshop sell stickers, and most stationers sell sharpies if you fancy a bit of loo graffiti. I wouldn't deface small businesses though, they're probably finding the current environment difficult enough without having to remove graffiti off their walls.

https://www.letwomenspeak.org/store.

https://wildwomynworkshop.com/tag-product/stickers/

Store | Let Women Speak

Adult Human Female Store - the home of adult human female and woman definition original t-shirts and stickers.

https://www.letwomenspeak.org/store

WandaWomblesaurus · 27/02/2024 00:15

I wonder if at some point when the full scope of the damage is done, JL and others can be sued for coercive influence.

WandaWomblesaurus · 27/02/2024 00:14

Sharon White stands shoulder to shoulder with some staff who are better than others.

BlunderMifflin · 20/02/2024 22:51

I really admired Sharon White before this, but she has shown utter contempt for women and children with that comment.

Hepwo · 19/02/2024 23:50

TrainedByCatsToBeScathing · 19/02/2024 16:53

Describing women’s concerns as going low is disgusting. She really would rather the business fail and people lose their jobs than admit she got it wrong.

If Ruby is Sharon going high I dread to think what her low is.

Actually we know don't we, her customers that don't want fetishes rammed down there throats whilst buying food and clothing are her "low".

Dreadful woman.

ScrollingLeaves · 19/02/2024 23:42

Rosesanddaisies1 · 16/02/2024 14:10

yes please do boycott, so I don't have to encounter any of you hateful and irrationally angry people whilst shopping there.

Hateful to be angry about promoting the idea that an 8 year old girl who likes comfortable ‘boy’s’ clothes is trans?

That is what I would call hateful and reprehensible, not to say unscientific and illogical.

WookeyHole · 19/02/2024 23:21

MrsJamin · 19/02/2024 23:08

@WookeyHole that was posted today at 14:58, that's what the last 20 messages were about.

Sorry, I realised too late.. I think he retweeted it again this evening and yes, I should have RTFT first.

MrsJamin · 19/02/2024 23:08

@WookeyHole that was posted today at 14:58, that's what the last 20 messages were about.

WookeyHole · 19/02/2024 22:31

Latest. How "inclusive" of everyone's opinions.

Boycott JL and Waitrose? : James Esses' latest Substack on John Lewis LGBTQIA++ 'Identity' mag
JanesLittleGirl · 19/02/2024 22:30

From: Peter Ruis
To: Sharon White
Subject: Identity Magazine

Hi Sharon,

WTAF

Kind regards,
Peter

PersephoneSeethes · 19/02/2024 21:48

Crikeyalmighty · 18/02/2024 13:21

I don't have any issue with being supportive and non prejudiced but this is well OTT, I suspect someone high up on comes there has totally lost the plot. They need to reassess this

Exactly! I think another poster put it well too, that it ShOULD be that her son (who works there) doesn’t realise it’s an inclusive workplace because they just are.

JLP shouldn’t have to coerce its staff or intimidate them into silence with the curse of ‘bigotry!’ because what they are asking is actually reasonable, fair and neutral.

JLP, as have many businesses, have gone totally over the top with the pride flag blazoning everything. It just feels and looks like performative and cheap marketing.

Apparently the wide use and promotion of celebrating pride is leading to consumer fatigue and seemingly from the statistics a brewing international backlash against the LGBTQAI++.

I was listening to the latest episode of the Queens Speech podcast and the blokes (Dennis Kavanagh and Clive Simpson) were saying that, as two older gay guys have never worn a pride lanyard in their lives because their sexuality is not their identity.

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PersephoneSeethes · 19/02/2024 21:04

PronounssheRa · 19/02/2024 17:08

I'm also wondering what Peter Ruis is making of all this. He has just been brought in to lead the department store side and has been in the role for only a month. The search also continues for the replacement chair person.

I feel really sorry for him. His first week back after ten years away…and this happens…

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IGoWalkingAfterMidnight · 19/02/2024 20:08

I cancelled my JL account on the weekend when I saw this thread. Just read an article in The Telegraph about JLs response?

SoreAndTired1 · 19/02/2024 19:40

MrsJamin · 19/02/2024 15:42

Ruby's instagram is still open on instagram, all of his photos widely available. Also the photographer is on linkedin asking for people's feedback. I'd comment but I wouldn't want my whole network to be informed as to what I said!

You can create a fake linkedin account.

PronounssheRa · 19/02/2024 17:51

I find the service not so great either compared to the past.

Waitrose service is OK but service in my local JL is dire and recent reviews suggest this is common.

They are already on a downward trajectory reporting losses rather than profit so they need this strategy to work.

Helleofabore · 19/02/2024 17:43

I find the Essentials brand not very delicious at all... And expensive and poorer quality compared to the competition.

But, hey ho. Taste is subjective after all.

Flowers4me · 19/02/2024 17:32

Absolutely extraordinary that customers are being described as 'low'. Utter contempt for their customers, some of whom may have legitimate concerns for their safety and that of their children.

duc748 · 19/02/2024 17:26

Was just going to say, the 'we go high, they go low' thing was Hillary Clinton, but, checking, it was Michele Obama (although referencing Clinton).

Goes without saying that this woman's use of the phrase in this context is disgraceful. And very bad business.

SoupDragonsFriend · 19/02/2024 17:18

I really shouldn't have looked up 'go high' and 'go low' on urban dictionary and am still not sure what Sharon White was meaning exactly. I can't imagine it was any of those definitions.

I cancelled my WR account this afternoon.

PelicanPopcorn · 19/02/2024 17:15

Nice on John Lewis and Waitrose - you just gained a customer! Great to see a big brand standing up for one of the UK's smallest minorities. Well done JL and Waitrose - sticking by your values!
And don't worry I'm sure when the people on this thread realize what poor service awaits them elsewhere, or run low on the delicious Waitrose essentials brand - they'll come running back!!

PronounssheRa · 19/02/2024 17:08

I'm also wondering what Peter Ruis is making of all this. He has just been brought in to lead the department store side and has been in the role for only a month. The search also continues for the replacement chair person.

PronounssheRa · 19/02/2024 16:57

TrainedByCatsToBeScathing · 19/02/2024 16:53

Describing women’s concerns as going low is disgusting. She really would rather the business fail and people lose their jobs than admit she got it wrong.

And framing what they are doing as 'going high' is bonkers.

I'm afraid the board will be happy to sacrifice the business and the jobs that go with it. Madness

TrainedByCatsToBeScathing · 19/02/2024 16:53

Describing women’s concerns as going low is disgusting. She really would rather the business fail and people lose their jobs than admit she got it wrong.

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