Marks and Spencer support new Hooters in Bristol, #2

[sethstarkaddersmum]

I went to post on the first thread but it was full so here is a new one.

I'm reposting Jessinavalon's OP from 10th September since it explains what is going on, for anyone who is new to the issue:

'Dear all
This is my first post on here so I hope I am doing this right!

I live in Bristol and, last week, 'Hooters' was granted a licence to open in the city centre. The site is virtually opposite 3 apartment blocks, the lower floors of which are social housing and children are living in them.

What's most disappointing is that Marks and Spencer are leasing the site to 'Hooters'. They have been e-mailed by many concerned people to ask if they will reconsider leasing the building but they have just replied saying it is a "commercial decision" (as if that makes it ok!). In Sheffield, a 'Hooters' didn't even make it to application stage because the developer (Ask Pizza) realised that it would be better not to be associated with a company like 'Hooters'.

Marks and Spencer don't seem that concerned, however. Although they have signed up to the "Let Girls Be Girls" Mumsnet campaign they are not concerned about a company which sells merchandise including babygros which say "Future Hooters Girl" and "Does my butt look big in this?"

I have written to Marks and Spencer telling them that I won't be shopping in their stores again. If you feel strongly about this, please e-mail:

[email protected].

'Hooters' tries to sell itself as a family friendly restaurant but it is anything but. The Hooters in Nottingham attracts mainly stag parties and football fans. Hooters Girls take part in bikini contests and iced wet t-shirt competitions (the t-shirts are put in the freezers before the girls wear them). 'Hooters' has links to Playboy magazine....I could go on.....

I think Marks and Spencer should be shamed for facilitating this company's expansion into Bristol. They are selling women and girls down the river by leasing to this company and all just to make a "quick buck".

Thanks everyone.'

www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/2010/10/12/it-s-more-fun-than-the-average-waitress-job-91466-27450375/

With what?

What happens when a Hooters girl becomes pregnant and get bump starts to show?

Can she still take part in the bikini contests?

Your guess is as good as mine.

It's all academic anyway, as neither of us work for the equality police. It doesn't matter what either of us think.

What did you think of the article?

It's mostly bullshit, including the comments from Kirsty Davie, but the last bit was interesting:

"Annette Ainsworth, who co-owns the franchise in the UK, said the company had received ?many applications? before even advertising its vacancies.

However, Ms Ainsworth refused to discuss Hooters? recruitment policy or whether a certain body shape was a requirement."

Haven't read it.

I very much doubt my guess is as good as yours!

You usually have an opinion. Nothing on the maternity policy?

I've already given you my opinion:
DavidStHubbins - Tue 12-Oct-10 00:10:32

Can you get hold of the company's maternity policy and share it with us?

Wish I could, but sadly I can't.

Someone needs to infiltrate the company and get hold of the UK contract and employee handbook.

I don't think is get very far in my application to be a Hooters girl. Aside from the physical characteristics, Im just too boring.

I am assuming that you are pretty confident that hasn't happened yet, or won't happen, otherwise you wouldn't be suggesting it!

Come on, surely with your superior googling skills you can find the UK contract or their maternity policy!

I would expect to be only a matter of time. Its not exactly easy to keep this kind of information private as, by definition, it needs to be shared with employees.

My googling skills are no better than average, btw.

Why did you ask me the other day what I was up to? If you're nothing to do with Hooters why would ask? And why don't you just come clean and admit what connection you have to the company. We all know that you are linked and, despite your continued protests that you are not connected, I don't think even you believes we are stupid enough to fall for that.

Are you just keeping an eye on what the little laydeez are up to?

If you're proud to be associated with the brand then admit it. Why keep hiding behind all these poor excuses about liking a debate? Why all this secrecy with Hooters? If there's nothing to hide and no legal challenge to be made, then admit who you are. You've nothing to be afraid of now. Even better, why not stop hanging around the thread altogether. If we can't stop Hooters opening, there's no need to monitor what we're up to because "our hands are tied". Or are you just trying to stem the flow of negative PR on here-if so, I think you are a bit outnumbered. Try talking to some more undecided people.

Interesting article on the Cardiff recruitment day

Did you see this comment on the Guardian article, by 3Genders:

'12 October 2010 8:29PM

As Hooters class themselves as a restaurant they are actually breaking sex discrimination law in their sexist hiring and employment policies. The Sex Discrimination Act, for instance, neither allows them to hire one sex only as waiting staff nor to impose weight restrictions on female employees but not on male employees - both of which they do.

They also discriminate quite vigorously against transwomen. Even if I wanted a job waiting table at Hooters I would be refused it simply because I am trans.

It's also a mystery to me just why a foreign firm is allowed to flout sex discrimination law whilst our own indigenous Welsh firms and organisations have to abide by it.

It's also sickening that Hooters is the sort of firm that fires a woman employee who turns up for work covered in bruises because she is the victim of domestic violence.

In these times of economic desperation and mass redundancies when so many of us lose our jobs and are desperate for work, I'm saddened that the city council of the capital of Wales spits on the people of Wales by giving the okay to a firm which would refuse to employ the vast majority of us.

It's like Cardiff inviting a company run by southern American racists to its shores 100 years ago in 1910 which employs whites-only in blackface. A sickening betrayal by those who are meant to represent us.'

also:
'One thing I also found out about the planned Hooters Cardiff is that they have a clause on their application form which an applicant has to sign to agree that they will undergo a full medical examination.

This is specifically to keep out transvestites and any transwoman who has not had full sex reassignment surgery. Just so that some pathetic heterosexist male customer's fragile sense of masculinity isn't shaken if he were to find a 'Hooters Girl' attractive who turned out - Miriam Rivera style - to still have a penis.'

yes, its fascinating.

Do you think 3Genders will be applying for job?

I noticed the statement on the application form that mentioned that employees must agree to undergo a medical examination. I presumed that this just involved a man and a tape measure!

I am sure 3Genders is right about it being to prevent transwomen though, don't you think?

Probably, if I could find an ambulance chaser willing to take on the case.

It surprises me that nobody has done it already in the UK. Perhaps they have but the company paid them off quietly - even the best of us can put cash before conscience sometimes.

I still think they have some kind of defence, as settling discrimination claims would have ruined them already.

Was their any more news from the EHRC?

I still think that taking them on using Equalities legislation is likely to be more successful than using the Licencing Act.

the medical examination reminds me of those Victorian prostitutes who used to have to have a medical examination and certificate in order to be allowed to work.

No offence David, but I think we all see through your attempts to help.

Do you not have any opinions on any of the other highly contentious issues on the feminism thread? Or any advice on how to tackle any of the problems there?

Or are you just interested in hooters?

I take it that the Hooters machine is still worried about what a bunch of silly feminists might do that they've still got someone to keep an eye on us on Mumsnet.

We are taking that as a compliment!

I've not heard anything more from the EHRC about the discriminatory hiring policies at the Nottingham Hooters. Perhaps I'll send a follow up email......

Hi all
If any of you are in Bristol next week, you are welcome to come along to this discussion about commercial sexualisation and Hooters.

The chair of the licensing committee, who allowed Hooters to open in Bristol (it "offered something different" and "his hands were tied" apparently) was invited to this event. We offered him a choice of 5 dates but he was busy for every single one of them which was strange given that he'd said that he considered it a priority to engage with members of Bristol Fawcett society and others on the subject of the sex industry at a council meeting at the beginning of September.

Commercialisation sexualisation and Hooters event