Tesco slammed over 'sexist' T-shirt - your views...

Just came across this as I was browsing the internet...

"Supermarket giant Tesco is under fire for selling a T-shirt with a logo which critics said "promoted voyeurism".

Women's groups said the shirt - which showed silhouettes of women in the sights of binoculars beneath the slogan "Bird Watching" - was "objectionable" and Tesco's decision to sell it "deeply concerning".

Tesco said the £6 own-brand shirt, which was on sale in shops and on the internet, was a "humorous item" which was no longer available.

"This T-shirt is objectionable on so many levels," said Anna van Heeswijk, campaigns manager for lobby organisation Object.

"It promotes voyeurism, dehumanises females into sex objects and uses sexist language to refer to women as 'birds'. These messages about women are worrying."

Object said it had previously criticised Tesco for selling and displaying "degrading and pornographic lads' mags".

Somali Cerise, prevention manager for the End Violence Against Women coalition, added: "It is deeply concerning that a major high-street retailer such as Tesco sells products that perpetuate the sexualisation of women.

"Our research shows that sexual harassment of young women is commonplace. Products like these T-shirts create a culture of acceptance and normalisation of sexual harassment.

"We are calling on Tesco to take a more responsible and ethical stance to what it sells, rather than send out messages that it is acceptable for men to leer at and ogle women."

Tesco, which also offers a "Sid the Sexist" T-shirt on the internet, said no offence had been intended. It said: "The T-shirt, which was intended as a humorous item of casual wear, was on clearance and is no longer on sale.""

http://news.uk.msn.com/uk/articles.aspx?cp-documentid=156183135

I'm a girl and I think some people need to lighten up. It's actually quite funny imo.

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People are so lame.

It's just a T-Shirt people need to get over it. Guys would probably buy regardless of where it was sold. Tesco obviously think they can make money from it so their oging to sell whatever brings in the doh.

Reply 3

Manitude

Only £6???? I want one :biggrin:

Reply 4

Mm_Minty

a)some people need to grow a sense of humour
b)that shirt should be banned anyway simply because it's so tacky-looking and ****e.

Reply 5

username549578

WTF... WHAT THE ****... this is really annoying. Soon you wont be able to say 'Honey, I'm home' without some feminist group jumping up your arse about 'objectifying women' or 'referring to them as a sweet food product'. We should all (men and women) buy that shirt out of protest.

Reply 6

Panda Vinnie

Next thing you know they'll be saying the same about Tesco selling magazines with provocative women on the covers...as it 'objectifies women'.

**** sake, what is the world coming to?

Reply 7

Genocidal

These people really need to do something productive with their lives. I know it's most likely that time of the month for these women but REALLY? :lolwut:

Reply 8

No Future

I don't think it's sexist really.

It's an ugly and tacky looking T shirt. I don't really care about the print, but it just looks cheap. Plain t shirts FTW!

Reply 9

Formica

Somehow I doubt this would have got any attention if it had been the two males in the binocular sights and an equivalent slogan.

Reply 10

Hedger

Just shows how anti-men society is. Why, you ask? Because all the women are doing 'HR' degrees when they should be in the kitchen, cooking.

Reply 11

01010000 01001010

Well done, I say. **** Tesco, they're the plague of the earth, as with all the other mega-corps that are putting independent stores out of business.

Reply 12

Kalliope

Original post by Mm_Minty

a)some people need to grow a sense of humour
b)that shirt should be banned anyway simply because it's so tacky-looking and ****e.

this.

Reply 13

fire2burn

Lmao, I bought my Granddad one of these a couple weeks ago to wear when he goes out bird watching on the nature reserve :biggrin:

Didn't realise people were so outraged about them. Yes they're horrifically tacky, but I think that's the point.

(edited 13 years ago)

Reply 14

fudgeeyena

Political correctness gone mad. Im a girl and I just find it funny, not sexist. Actually, I think I want one.

Reply 15

Broderss

This is what happens in a democracy people. You get retards yearning for a sense of power doing stuff like this. I ****ing hate what this country has become. Before long we will be just like America where anyone can sue anyone over anything.

There's nothing wrong with this t-shirt but in fact in objecting to it she is really showing how weak women truly are.

Reply 16

Psyk

I guess my T-shirt that says "Hunting for Beaver" wouldn't be appropriate either.

Reply 17

Drunk Punx

They call that "bad"?
I've got worse t-shirts sitting in my cupboard, I'd imagine most people do.
People need a sense of humour, this PC society we live in does nowt but piss me off.

Reply 18

countryfile

Original post by fudgeeyena

Political correctness gone mad. Im a girl and I just find it funny, not sexist. Actually, I think I want one.

This.

But not the last bit, 'cos I think it's pretty gross.

It's a bit mental how sensitive people are about stuff like this, surely no one can be that pathetic?