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.'

Hello

We thought we should give you a quick update on where we're at re the M&S Hooters thang.

Some of you have asked whether we can ask M&S to review their association with Let Girls Be Girls, because doing business with Hooters is in conflict with supporting the campaign - if not technically, then in spirit. M&S have said in a statement that the decision is a purely commercial one - but clearly, not many MNers feel that this lets them off the hook.

We're pretty sympathetic to this point of view, and we're disappointed that M&S has chosen not to take note of the strong opposition amongst MNers. You might have seen Justine's interview in the Independent on Sunday, in which she expressed the strength of feeling here.

But after considerable thought, we've decided to hold fire for now. The Let Girls Be Girls campaign has a very specific remit - retailers who sign up commit 'not to sell products which play upon, emphasise or exploit' children's sexuality. While Hooters may be objectionable, it's not yet clear that they are objectionable on those terms - and right now we think that retroactively expanding the terms of the campaign would be a mistake.

But do rest assured that we're keeping a close eye on these threads - and of course don't feel deterred from using the boards to take your protest further. The best MN campaigns are usually driven by MNers and we are of course, more than happy to facilitate and comment in the press when asked.

Hey, I've got it - maybe Hooters cocked up the licencing application by printing the notice on the wrong paper...

nohootersinbristol.blogspot.com/2010/09/mystery-of-vanishing-licence.html

Oh, well. Worth a try. Who says we're clutching at straws?

sod off David

David-I was hoping you would rejoin us. I was missing you!

I love the interest you are taking in this. At first I was a little creeped out at the idea of a middle aged man sat at his computer at 3am typing out insulting messages on a feminism thread, but now I realise the error of my ways. You are here to teach us silly girlies so much!

I'm sorry I ever doubted you.

You are my role model.

Jessxxxxxxxxxxxx

Thankyou Katie.

A little sense at last.

Kate, sorry.

Thanks Kate for the update from MNHQ. I understand MNHQ position.

I would still urge people to continue to let M&S know that some of us are unhappy with the decision they have taken. It will hopefully make them think more carefully about their commercial decisions in future.

Thanks also to Justine for talking to the press 2 weeks ago. It's good to know that MNHQ is also unhappy with the decision that Marks and Spencer have taken.

They told me on the phone that they were considering issuing a statement in response to all the complaints. That would be appreciated. I was also told that it may appear that M&S are just brushing this under the carpet but they said they aren't. However, it does very much look as if that's the case. Disappointing!

Middle aged? You mean, like MumofRachel, who, at 32, the Hooters manager described as 'older'?

I suppose we're both nearing the halfway point of our 'three score years and ten', so technically you could call us middle aged.

Also, its in the news today that the 'mid life crisis' is most likely to begin in the mid thirties. Apparently, the new way to spot one is to look out for portly lycra-clad men riding expensive flashy bicycles.

Not sure how a mid-life crisis manifests itself in the stereotypical woman, any ideas?

Aw Jess, I don't want to suck up but it is great that you are braving all this. It's not easy to put yourself up as the one to pick one who Hates Boobies or whatever.

Btw, Elephants, meant to say thanks for this! No, it's not been a fun ride so far. Some of the abuse has been pretty unbelievable - people are calling us militant, spitting and ranting whilst at the same time calling us every name under the sun. Someone even wished that we were "six foot under" on one newspaper article! And we are told that it's all in the interest of offering a different viewpoint....which is fine but I don't see how calling me a "rabid crone" or a "hag" is a different viewpoint on Hooters!

Oh well, all good practice for the continued campaign and future ones!

Sounds like the siege mentality is building up nicely.

I know Jess, it's amazing how people can claim to be descending saviour-like to offer us some of their pure untarnished wisdom, and yet that wisdom/alternative viewpoint so often takes the form of "haha you jealous bitches". Call me fussy but I was expecting more of these sages.

Yes, it was all rather ironic. Especially the opinion piece which described us spitting and ranting for doing nothing more than setting up a petition and e-mailing the Council!

The comments directed at anti-Hooters campaigners below the article were some of the most vitriolic I've ever read. It does all become pretty unoriginal though after the second or third "ugly feminist" insult, I found it all quite amusing.

I've just been thinking that we should perhaps be grateful that Hooters didn't manage to get the Bristol and Cardiff outlets open in time for the Ryder Cup.

After all, the Welsh Assembly is convinced that it will cause a spike in sex trafficking to satisfy the demands of Tig... er... thousands of depraved golf fans. Surely these bastards would also be looking for some casual mysoginy with their beer and wings. We should at least be thankfully that they won't find any of that!

It is pretty funny in a way. Like you're supposed to think "oh, I thought that women were objectified and judged too much for their looks, and that hooters was feeding that attitude. But now you've called me ugly you've totally disproved my point..."

Misogyny.

Better add that to the spell-checker on my phone

Now who else do we know round here who spells "misogyny" and made-up-word "misandry" like that?

Never used the word myself, but id be interested to know why its 'made up'?

Not sure why I'm bothering, but this was a nice thread in Dadsnet where stuff like that was discussed.

I'll check out that thread, Elephants - thanks!

Ha - that was for David actually Jess, but is worth a read by anybody. :)

Thanks, will take a look at that.

Tbh, I've not seen anything that could be described as 'misandry' here.

I've already commented on that thread I agree misandry is a made up word....but then all words are made up but that those not mean what it describes is not true.

Misandry is not instutionalised as misogyny (i am sure you know what I mean by this) but ofc it exists. Misanthropy and misogyny exist then unless you are saying there are no people who hate men then I am not sure where you are going.

I have no idea what that first sentence means Saltatrix, sorry.