To ask you to tell this shop that having 'I love sluts' in their window is not ok?

[Kaloobear]

Link here to my original thread: link

They are on Facebook here:

Amanda's of York Facebook page

There is a t-shirt in their window that has been there all week that says 'I love sluts' on it. I have been in twice to complain that it's offensive and been told I'm being obnoxious, it's just a t-shirt, people find it funny, it's a best seller, etc etc.

Maybe some people do find it funny; I don't. I think it's awful. It promotes woman-hating language and suggests it's ok to judge women on their sexual habits, call them names and treat them as worthless. I don't know any women or men who would find this funny, but apparently it's ok to offend everyone who walks past the shop in order to appeal to the few neanderthals out there who would laugh at it.

I know not everyone's a feminist, I know some people will think I'm having a sense of humour failure, and I know that in the grand scheme of things it's one small statement. But I feel like it stands for a lot more, and I am more incensed by it every day that I walk past it.

If it makes you angry too, please tell them. They also have a website, Amanda's of York, that has contact details if you would like to get in touch but don't have/want to Facebook.

I am a feminist but I am not going to complain about the T shirt.

I don't think I get to judge what should and shouldn't be allowed to be printed on t-shirts. Where does that lead?

I won't buy one, I don't like it but I don't want everything I find offensive banned.

Are you in favour of people being allowed to print racist slogans on t-shirts too Catgirl? Or just sexist ones?

It's a difficult question Turnip (for me anyway)

I am not in favour of racist slogans, but I think I might be in favour of people being allowed to print them.

Of course, inciting racial hatred is a crime, so if the slogan did this (which it most likely would) then there would be legal recourse to have it prohibited. If you are asking me if sexism should have the same legal status as racism in such circumstances I would not have a ready answer but my instinct would be yes. However, my over riding belief is that freedom of speech is of incredible importance.

I don't think a belief in freedom of speech and expression is an easy belief to have, particularly when you are confronted with views you find abhorrent. I certainly struggle with it at times, for example when I see the EDL march through my town, but I do still think they should have the right to do so, despite my personal feelings about their views.

Am now wondering if a T-shirt that said

"I love " would fall foul of inciting racial hatred. I am thinking probably not.

So, whilst I would find it offensive I would still not think it should be banned due to freedom of speech etc.

I'd just hope (like I do with this t-shirt) that no one was fuck witted enough to buy it. Although, of course, I know I would be wrong.

Just added my request to remove too. The post before mine says it's gone - I do hope so........if so GO VIPERS!!!!!!!

It wasn't banned though. Just as the shop owner used their freedom to display, then others have the right to use their freedom to voice their displeasure. I think the shop owner probably valued not alienating potential customers and not drawing attention to her lousy choices over her freedom of speech.

True

To be fair, I would not want to walk down the street and have to answer

"Mummy, what's a slut?" (or any other offensive word)

Done. Bloody pigs, I had to put pressure on Chargrilled to remove a Top with a pro-rape slogan last year (got called a mindless old harpie for my troubles but they did remove it).

well done.. it sounds like the t-shirt has gone according to comments on the facebook page :-)
And for those who say they are not a feminist - do you not equal rights for women? how odd...