A covered outdoor space is the surprising highlight of this Dublin extension
A covered outdoor space is the surprising highlight of this Dublin extension

Megan Burns

Peek inside this Donegal home with private sea access and a tennis court
Peek inside this Donegal home with private sea access and a tennis court

Megan Burns

What to bake this weekend: Rainbow cookie loaf cake
What to bake this weekend: Rainbow cookie loaf cake

Sarah Finnan

‘Breaking news: Sex is better at 40 than it is at 20’
‘Breaking news: Sex is better at 40 than it is at 20’

The Secret Socialite

This Ranelagh mews home has been infused with a soft, serene palette
This Ranelagh mews home has been infused with a soft, serene palette

Megan Burns

Irish Design Spotlight: Urban Aran
Irish Design Spotlight: Urban Aran

Megan Burns

WIN a €500 voucher for IrelandsEye Knitwear
WIN a €500 voucher for IrelandsEye Knitwear

IMAGE

This glamorous Donegal new-build was inspired by its owners’ time abroad
This glamorous Donegal new-build was inspired by its owners’ time abroad

Megan Burns

My Life in Culture: Visual artist Karen McLaughlin
My Life in Culture: Visual artist Karen McLaughlin

Sarah Finnan

Four strategies to try if it’s time for a career reinvention
Four strategies to try if it’s time for a career reinvention

Leonie Corcoran

Image / Editorial

Marks and Spencer accused of sexism over window display


By Edaein OConnell
21st Nov 2018
Marks and Spencer accused of sexism over window display

Marks and Spencer have come under fire for a window display in their Nottingham store in England.

One side of the window shows men’s suits with the slogan “must-have outfits to impress” and the other shows women’s lingerie with the accompanying slogan “must-have fancy little knickers”. The display has been described as ‘sexist’ by campaigners.

Picture: @FiLiA_charity

 

The window was then defaced, with the tagline changed to the words “must-have full human rights.”

A picture of the window was originally posted into a Facebook group called Feminist Friends Nottingham by a user called Fran Bailey with the caption: “Ok, M&S Nottingham, have we really not learned anything in the last 35 years? Or am I alone in finding this, their major window display, completely vomit inducing?”

Speaking to the BBC, Fran explained why she was outraged, saying: “I also feel very, very strongly about the representation of women as being preoccupied with ‘fancy little knickers’, whereas men are presented as powerful and needing to be impressive. I don’t have a problem with people choosing to wear whatever they want to wear, I just feel like the juxtaposition is what’s grossly, grossly offensive.”

She added: “We are surrounded by sexual images of both men and women. M&S are not, by any means, the only offenders but that particular window just epitomises everything that’s wrong with current marketing and how far backwards we’ve gone.”

In a statement, Marks and Spencer said: “M&S sells more underwear, in more shapes, sizes and styles, than any other retailer, especially at Christmas. We’ve highlighted one combination in our windows, which are part of a wider campaign that features a large variety of Must-Have Christmas moments, from David Gandy washing up in an M&S suit through to families snuggling up in our matching PJs.”

Twitter users have also voiced their concerns over the window display: