AIBU to question John Lewis advert and its message about women?

[Sheldonsheher]

John Lewis pushing this advert on my social media. Do they support oppression of women or is this a symbol of women’s right to choose .

It is including muslim women into mainstream shopping websites i imagine John lewis is for all women,
I am not Muslim so I.have no say in what women who follow Islam wear.

Did you go looking for it or did it come up on your search/algorithm?

There is obviously a market for this or they wouldn’t sell it. What is your problem exactly with a business trying to extend its reach to a new market?

Btw I don’t like seeing women covered to this extent and I agree it’s a tradition that’s rooted in misogyny. But they’re customers just like any of us. The vast majority of beauty products marketed to women and things like thong bikinis (when there’s no mainstream equivalent for men) are also rooted in misogyny. Should JL not sell those things either?

Can up randomly

I find this hard to believe tbh, unless their algorithm is truly bust.

They don't offer single sex changing rooms either. So no, they don't really support women's rights at all.

Just randomly? , well i have been looking at dresses for a wedding and I can't say it came up on my adverts from JL

What message do you think the advert is giving OP?

If John Lewis were advertising a shapeless maxi dress would you wonder if they were trying to influence women to dress modestly? Or if they were advertising lipstick that they were saying women should paint their faces?
They are a business that makes its profit from persuading people to buy things from them. The advert is to persuade women who wear this clothing to purchase it from John Lewis.

Tell us your problem with it, OP. Do you think women have to bare their flesh to be free? Do you think it is any of your business what Muslim women wear?

This very same advert came up on my fb …
saying ‘ Joe bloggs ( one of my fb friends ) follows John Lewis and partners ‘ .
I thought it was interesting that they’ve branched out into clothing like that but as previous posters have said they’re a business so there’s obviously a market .
I certainly wasn’t offended , it’s a shop OFFERING things for sale .

What exactly is oppressive about this? It isn’t a niqab or burqa for starters, there’s also no sign the model was forced to wear it (I bet she was not!). You’re being Islamophobic.

Do you have a problem with nuns wearing the habit, OP? This is really no different.

It’s come up a lot on my social media as well.

It is completely different. nuns are a religious order, no ordinary catholic women wear the equivalent. This is every day wear for lots of women and of course it’s oppressive- no men are wearing it. Millions of women around the world are forced to wear it or die

No indeed. John Lewis should sell only approved clothing that achieves the exact point of balance between not so revealing it oppresses women by encouraging them to dress for the male gaze; yet not providing so much coverage it oppresses women by encouraging them to not expose themselves to the male gaze.
They should employ a panel of concerned women who can decide on the appropriate amount of other women's bodies they expect to see, then stock garments to these specifications only. It is their duty to protect women from choosing to inadvertently oppress ourselves.

I don’t know maybe showing my age it’s not what you expect on a random John Lewis advert in the past. Especially as I’m
not in the market for one. I’m not really sure but personally I see it as misogynistic dress to control women. Ok no face cover but everything else is covered.Although seems others don’t agree and feel I am in wrong to even notice it.

Do john Lewis stock nuns outfits too,? I would be surprised if that or any clergy wear popped up on my social media too to be honest.

The advert says it is for prayer. So it’s not all day, every day wear. It is for when praying. The poster’s nun analogy is pretty accurate imho.

Perhaps the algorithms are influenced by the preoccupations that some non-Muslim people have with searching out pretexts to feel righteously hostile to Islam. If you are clicking on Muslim-related things frequently enough, even out of hostility, that might be all it takes for the algorithms to push products at you that Muslim people might buy.

Also, OP , did you miss the fact that this is a prayer dress - something to be slipped on over other clothes to be ready for prayer, as I understand it. The other clothes might be anything. How is a special garment for prayer more oppressive than using a prayer mat? They are all just comfortable and respectful little routines to help you get your mind in the right space for prayer.

I don't know why I am writing all this. You and I neither of us have any business analysing Muslim women's choice in this respect. Just leave them alone FFS.

I'm not really into policing what women wear. I prefer to fight the patriarchy, not act as it's footsoldier.

I 'm failing to see anything offensive in the advert.
Does OP also get upset about the Ann Summers adverts which portray women as pieces of meat trussed up generally for the benefit of men ?

Are we all pretending that covering up your hair and body to this extent isn't a result of male oppression but wearing lipstick IS a symbol of male oppression since it's done "for the male gaze"?

Fuck me sideways, that's some tortured defending

@Sheldonsheher No because nuns are not a big enough market in the UK & don't have any disposable income.