To be livid at Marks & Spencer's sexism: 'Women Must Have Fancy Little Knickers'?

[EmpressAdultHumanFemale]

A tweet from FiLiA, along with a photo of two M&S window displays. Men's Must-Haves: Outfits To Impress. Women's Must-Haves: Fancy Little Knickers.

This would be crass enough at any time, but even more so when an Irish girl has recently been blamed for her own rape because of her lacy knickers.

I think I've set foot in M&S for the last time.

Not this fat arse...

Yeah, I'd be more impressed if they were marketing a massive-knee-length-bloomers-and-rape-whistle kit.

I guess they're selling to the Clueless Man at Christmas demographic.

It may be sexist, but a large number of men buy their partners underwear for Christmas. Also, a large number of women buy themselves fancy underwear at Christmas.

That is just so unbelievably tone deaf, after all that has happened recently. They should sack whoevers terrible idea that window display was.

I do not wear knickers. I wear pants. They're not little, because I am not little, and they are not fancy because frankly smooth fabrics are more comfortable. I bought them in M&S, funnily enough. I think they're trying to get away from their "frumpy" image, damn them.

Awful. You couldn't make it up could you?

It may be sexist, but a large number of men buy their partners underwear for Christmas. Also, a large number of women buy themselves fancy underwear at Christmas.

Well, anyone who thinks it's OK is welcome to go & shop there. I'm repulsed.

And it's a pain because I like their cotton T-shirts and some of their food. But any company that thinks that window display is acceptable, especially in the current context, is not getting my cash.

I love a pair of fancy little knickers but given the recent rape trial it does leave a very sour taste and does show how women can't win. Wear fancy knickers because you're worth it/try finding something without a bow and you'll be struggling anyway but heaven forfend you are found to be wearing them if you've been attacked.

Oh, my! I didn’t realise until I clicked on the pic that those were the actual words M&S had used!

Horribly inappropriate, patronising and sexist.

Eh?

Perhaps I am a bit dim but why can’t women want fancy knickers? And buy it themselves? Are we not allowed ?

Oh God. It really says “fancy little knickers”.

Vom.

You’re not wrong. Totally tone deaf.

🤢 Could they sound more misogynist and creepy? Terrible advertising given recent events.

Yeah first thing I thought of when I saw your thread title was that rape case. It's so utterly confusing to be a woman such mixed messages being sent out, all it seems to keep us in our place and always in the wrong

Normally I’d have no issue with the gift idea side of things but ‘fancy little knickers’ does make me feel a bit sick.

Doesn't bother me. I've got bigger things to worry about.

I guess they're selling to the Clueless Man at Christmas demographic.

This^ but if my Dh bought me these I'd think he was having a mid life crisis. Can you buy grey and baggy or is it years of wear that makes them so comfortable?

What an absolute crock. Once again men do things, women just are things.

It may be sexist, but a large number of men buy their partners underwear for Christmas. Also, a large number of women buy themselves fancy underwear at Christmas.

Do they? My DH has never bought me underwear, I have bought him underwear however because he never shops for himself. I have just asked for his thoughts on buying me underwear and he replied that he does not want me to be uncomfortable and that buying underwear for me is potentially more a gift for himself than me.

@theknacktoflying it isn't that they sell fancy knickers, it's that it's labelled as a women's must have, in contrast to the men's outfit option.

What an absolute crock. Once again men do things, women just are things.

sad but true.

So men must have have something to impress, which is all outdoor wear,weather appropriate etc.
Women must have fancy little knickers. To impress in the bedroom I suppose?

Tbh fancy little knickers have never been something i MUST have. It's a shit,sexist and misogynistic idea anyways,but given the rape trial in Ireland it's gone way beyond that.

Must have my (big,fat and not fancy) arse.

Euwh. This makes me feel decidedly itchy. Why "must" I have fancy little knickers that scratch and go up yer bum? I guess "Women must have...comfortable, supportive, well-fitting bras" didn't sound suitably titillating or belittling?

Women must have pockets!!

How awesome and easy would that have been?

Why can't women have outfits to impress, same as the men?

Epic fail, M&S.

To give M&S their due, their advertising campaign was probably penned long before the Court Case in Ireland.