This isn't just sexism, this is M&S sexism

[PimmsnLemonade]

Marks and Spencer's window display. The 'must have' for men is "outfits to impress" , for women it's "fancy little knickers", Men must dress powerfully and impress in their suits, women must look sexy in their "little knickers".

twitter.com/FiLiA_charity/status/1064248341763100672

Are M & S being unreasonable? I think so.

Yes, it is ridiculous. When will these companies start to realise that perpetuating these male stereotypes of what represents success can be damaging to the mental health of men - who are already way more likely to end up suicidal. We are constantly bombarded by images of what men should look like to show success, or power, or strength.

But sure, the knickers thing too.

(I genuinely feel we can perhaps have a little balance on International Men's Day)

MrsTerryPratchett hit the nail on the head:
"It might be one window. But scantily clad women and men fully clothed with all the power is kind of a theme. I mean are there really lots of campaigns and windows full of cute men in speedos surrounded by women in pant suits?"

Adam and Norniron I would have never thought about men feeling pressured like that. Thanks. You've enlightened me. Every day is a school day on MN.

am surprised so many are trivialising it but it does explain why sexism keeps running on!

This is so true. To borrow a phrase often seen on MN, society has really done a number on so many women. It's very sad, and frustrating.

I'm not sure what's more depressing; that in 2018 women are still being sold this claptrap, or the amount of people (trolls?) on this thread who are so spectacularly hard of thinking that they can't see why this is a problem.

YANBU. Everyday sexism.

I'm not sure what's more depressing; that in 2018 women are still being sold this claptrap, or the amount of people (trolls?) on this thread who are so spectacularly hard of thinking that they can't see why this is a problem

Absolutely this

Wow gender stereotypes at its best. Why can't both sexes have outfits to impress. When children walk past that, it is reinforcing those stereotypes. Really M&S, you could do better.

There's a famous meme about Barbie vs He Man and the pressure it applies to children of each gender. I won't link to it because half the text is feminism bashing that I don't agree with, though the male stereotype is an interesting addition to the debate.

I'm not of fan of International Mens' Day though, because - without wanting to light the blue touch paper - isn't that every day? (especially if regarded as international!)

For another M&S classic, have a look at their birth celebration cards.

They have a pair in a matching style, but the one for boys says "a brand new adventure is about to happen" and the one for girls says "the world just got a little lovelier"........

IMO every day sexism will persist until solutions are found instead of complaints.
Parts of this thread are a good example. Blatant women-should-value-their-sex-appeal [to men, can't comment if this stuff works on lesbians] advertising is bad. But also, [a proportion of] women want fancy knickers. So, how do you go about providing the promotion of that product without being demeaning? Get that sorted and that part of everyday sexism should start to unravel.

I don't know the actual solution btw.

@Fuzzyend....watch the TED Talk on Teach Girls to be Brave. Eye-opening insights into the roots of gender stereotyping

I have to agree with some of the comments that this really isn’t an issue. Fundamentally M&S suits are not impressive and their knickers are no fancy anyway.

If both window displays were underwear, or both suits/dress to impress I would have less of an issue. But as it stands, the display pisses me off, what is depressing is the number of people on here oblivious to the drip drip effect of sexism, it is so normalised you have women saying this display is a non issue.

@AdamNichol. Yes, every day more men take their own lives, more men are incarcerated for crimes while women go free, or are sentenced to longer in jail.

I don't see whay there can't be a day to focus on these issues, or to at least draw attention to them, without undoing the good work being done on gender inequality in the other direction.

The purpose of a Men's Day isn't to encourage harassment of women!

@ueterusieterusghali it’s cheap underwear. It’s really not a femenist issue. It’s an individual issue. Most women aren’t stupid enough to buy into that shit (just like most men aren’t stupid enough to think that anyone will be impressed by an M&S suit). If a woman does feel any kind of social pressure as a result of this advertising it’s bevause she is stupid, not because she’s a woman.

Fundamentally M&S suits are not impressive and their knickers are no fancy anyway

Oh well that’s ok then 🙄

It only becomes an issue if the clothes are nice?

How can it be a femenist issue if it doesn’t effect women as a class or women by virtue of their class?

It’s really not a femenist issue

Everyday sexism is absolutely a femenist (sic) issue. How can it not be?

@jaqueshammer well any rational adult looking at that window would go ‘pffft lol’ and move on. It’s not like telling women who choose to work that they are bad mothers or telling men that they have to earn a six figure salary to be a real man. These kinds of messages are an issue because they actually effect people and they affect the way we operate as a society. This window display on the other hand won’t effect anyone withheld a brain.

@jaqueshammer it’s not a femenist issue because it isn’t important. It doesn’t effect women either. Femenist issues are things like why women can’t get top jobs without positive discrimination or when young girls are raised by their parents to be ashamed of their sexuality. Femenist issues are things that have a real impact on the way our society operates or on individual lives. Crap advertising doesn’t fall into those categories. To say that it is important to be any kind of issue) is just a bit odd.

Actually any “rational adult” would ackowledge this as part of a wider societal issue.

This window display on the other hand won’t effect anyone withheld a brain

Ironic

Yup, that is a vomit worthy window display. I'm so bored with skantily clad women in silly little knickers. Why the hell must a woman have little knickers? What a pathetic aspiration, to dream of something so impractical getting stuck up your bum crack.

Wow - that display really grates. M&S should be better than that.

A fine example of everyday sexism. Glad M&S shut down on our high street so my 14yr DD doesn't have to see that crap.

Why don’t you ask Theresa May, Nicola Sturgeon, Ruth Davidson, & Arlene Foster if sexist shop windows held them back?

YANBU