Marks and Spencer support new 'Hooters' in Bristol

[JessinAvalon]

Dear all
(I've posted this under the feminism list but it's been suggested that I post it here as well.)

I live in Bristol and, last week, 'Hooters' was granted a licence to open in the city centre. The site is virtually opposite 3 apartment blocks, the lower floors of which are social housing and children are living in them.

What's most disappointing is that Marks and Spencer are leasing the site to 'Hooters'. They have been e-mailed by many concerned people to ask if they will reconsider leasing the building but they have just replied saying it is a "commercial decision" (as if that makes it ok!). In Sheffield, a 'Hooters' didn't even make it to application stage because the developer (Ask Pizza) realised that it would be better not to be associated with a company like 'Hooters'.

Marks and Spencer don't seem that concerned, however. Although they have signed up to the "Let Girls Be Girls" Mumsnet campaign they are not concerned about a company which sells merchandise including babygros which say "Future Hooters Girl" and "Does my butt look big in this?"

I have written to Marks and Spencer telling them that I won't be shopping in their stores again. If you feel strongly about this, please e-mail:

[email protected].

'Hooters' tries to sell itself as a family friendly restaurant but it is anything but. The Hooters in Nottingham attracts mainly stag parties and football fans. Hooters Girls take part in bikini contests and iced wet t-shirt competitions (the t-shirts are put in the freezers before the girls wear them). 'Hooters' has links to Playboy magazine....I could go on.....

I think Marks and Spencer should be shamed for facilitating this company's expansion into Bristol. They are selling women and girls down the river by leasing to this company and all just to make a "quick buck". As one former customer said to them, being a hitman is a "commercial decision" but it doesn't make it right!

Thanks everyone.

We have a petition here which we set up and a blog here which is recording articles etc and news on the Bristol Hooters.

ShriekingHarpy - to suggest that children seeing women in bikinis on the beach is much the same as their seeing Hooters waitresses at work is a bit disingenous, surely?

Hooters is set up around the central premise that punters will go there to look at, and objectify, women who are chosen on the basis of their breasts. Their own promotional literature couldn't be clearer on that.

Just because far more serious things happen doesn't mean we shouldn't get exercised about this. I think it's the thin end of the sodding wedge, and yes, we do seem to be moving back towards the 70's in terms of attitudes towards sexuality, only it's all knowing and retro this time, which makes it worse.

There are other female-centric issues of far greater significance to protest about, ie Female genital mutilation, stoning, child matrimony and so on -

Indeed there are. .

boss USA Hooters!! may be an interesting watch!!

Undercover boss USA...Hooters

bump for the undercover boss.

I would just like to say, after Reading all the comments
about hooters, I actually visited the place with my 9 month baby today and I have to say that I recieved the best service from the most friendly down to earth staff members I have ever met! As soon as I walked in they immeadiately met the needs for my baby. It is shocking that women actually look down on things and pass off this judgement to their children. None of the things that are being said to go on in this building are false. They do a few dances after 9pm, which as the waitress told me today was the YMCA! That's nothing I didn't do when I worked in a bar when I was younger and no one complained about that! The girls that I spoke to today were smart and the only people objectifying them are the women that stte they only get employed for their looks! Yes they are beautiful women in hotpants but the meal o had today was more of a family friendly experience Than any i've had in pizza express as I am always made to feel like an inconvience for bringing my pushchair in. And if you wil judge hooters then I am made to feel who looks into every other place that allow children,for instance many people took children into the brand Chicago rock cafe on the waterfront but as it didn't have lovely girl in hotpants people overlooked all the knife fights and drug raids that went on there after 9pm so why target somewhere that's well managed, safe and friendly? And as for the children in social housing, I live in bedminster where council houses are opposite sex shops and that is wrong, where women are really being objectifyed, not harmless fun at hooters!
I would recomend this place to any mum that wants a young, friendly, fun atmosphere to relax and have a laugh. I am confident in my skils as a mother to teach my son right from wrong and how to respect women without avoiding such places. Mothers who talk down about these women are teaching children that they don't have to respect them.