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.

How are people failing to see that it isn’t about being offended by small knickers, it’s the juxtaposition between how the man and woman are portrayed. Everyday sexism is damaging

Most women like to feel sexy, so bloody what!
Just let it lie

There’s no issue with that

I certainly don't feel like I'm been perceived as a sexual object

Why? Is that you in the window?

And I like that red marks underwear

That’s fine

Are you really suggesting you can’t see the wider societal implications of the placement of the ad?

And yeah crazy by name and nature, I'd hate to be boring

Oh dear

I’m crazy me, lol.

Do you think crazy that there'd be a Marks window with a woman in a suit saying 'must haves: outfits to impress' and next to it, a man in lacy boxers saying 'fancy little boxers'?

I love your name, I bet you're a right hoot.

Bonkers, me. Yaaaaaah.

Ugh.

What antedeluvian bellend thought this was appropriate?

Don't see the Christmas nibbles coming from M&S this year.

This isn't any old sexism. This is Marks and Spencer sexism.

How are people failing to see that it isn’t about being offended by small knickers, it’s the juxtaposition between how the man and woman are portrayed.

Exactly!
If it was men’s ‘must-haves’ being fancy underwear next to women’s being fancy underwear, I wouldn’t have a problem with it.

If it was men’s work clothes next to women’s work clothes, ditto.

But a “must-haves” window display with men in “outfits to impress” next to women in “fancy little knickers”, come ON. How can you see that and think “well there’s no problem there, you feminists must just hate underwear”?

The "oh, they have pictures of David Gandy in his pants as well so that means there's no sexism anywhere ever" argument is so fatuous it makes me want to cry. It's like men who claim that male objectification is as big a problem as female objectification because, erm, Diet Coke ad and stuff.

Look, I have no issue with purveyors of underwear using pictures of models wearing said underwear to advertise their wares. That's just normal marketing. If the male side of this window display had featured men's pants and a similarly twee/objectifying tagline (little tighty whiteys, maybe) then it would still have been somewhat crass, but I wouldn't have thought it was sexist. It's the juxtaposition of fully-dressed, businesslike men and half-naked, sexualised women that sticks in my craw.

I fully agree with you, only in the Irish independent today, A mother of a young Scottish teen who took her life, after having to display her underwear in a rape case. It is disgusting. Yanbu. Shame on M&S.

The mother is so courageous but it is so FUCKING sad, see the link

www.independent.ie/irish-news/im-shocked-this-is-still-happening-mum-of-teen-rape-victim-who-died-by-suicide-after-being-forced-to-hold-up-underwear-in-court-37546428.html

This isn't any old sexism. This is Marks and Spencer sexism.

Oh dear god!
That is it!

How are people failing to see that it isn’t about being offended by small knickers, it’s the juxtaposition between how the man and woman are portrayed. Everyday sexism is damaging

Hear hear!

As I said on the other thread, it takes an awful lot to offend me but M&S has succeeded spectacularly in doing so with this.

The implications of the idea that a 'must have' for men is 'outfits to impress' aren't great either.

If anyone ever doubted how highly men keep women in their regard do go to the Times article and read the comments. A load of blokes saying how stupid an issue it is and well, how women should be ignored over that - actual words from one man.

I am not least bit offended. World has gone crazy

Oh God, I assumed that it was a window dressing cock up. Clicking on the photo, there is no doubting the sexism, is there? Those words are actually printed on the windows

I'm not offended but it is problematic, IMO. Its the kind of casual, innocuous everyday sexism that we hardly even notice that is sending a message; men do impressive things, women look sexy.

And there is nothing wrong with feeling sexy and empowered, and we all need pants. But really M&S? It's so tasteless.

Man = status, dignity
Woman = silly little frilly

even the M&S picture of the man in his boxers is not a counterpart to the woman in the silly frillies, the man in the boxers is a muscular and athletic, he embodies physical prowess, the woman in her undies is a sex object there to please men

It is weird. Many people would love a David Gandy in his undies display.

"Little knickers" are surely crotchless or thongs? The knickers in that display look surprisingly normal to me.

Considering how many women buy outfits for Xmas (dress, shoes and accessories) and how they are often pricier than underwear sets, I'd have thought that the "outfits to impress " would mainly be female clothing?!

Greendale17 This really isn't something I can get worked up about. I wouldn't have even notice had it not been in the news. M&S best sellers are women's undies and men's suits. So that is what is in their windows. Not complex. Just marketing.

I did see somewhere earlier that there is a 3rd display (not pictured) of 'outfits to impress' for women, so this isn't the whole window display. I still think the choice of words is awful and can not believe that no one stood in front of that window and realised the stupidity of placing those displays side by side, but I do think it makes it slightly less offensive...

And yeah crazy by name and nature, I'd hate to be boring

And yet...

'Fancy Little Knickers' ?? They wouldn't fit on my big arse!

'Full Black Briefs' would be more apt