Marks and Spencer are in big trouble. Not the financial troubles and woes that have been plaguing them for the last few years, that’s insignificant compared to the shit-storm created by this window display in their Nottingham store. Because you can scorn accountants and auditors (even lie to them, cheat for them or get them to do both for you) but you scorn feminists at your total fucking peril!

And this Christmas window was deemed, (quote:) “vomit-inducing” by one woman, I’m gonna guess she’s a feminist, who questioned whether M&S ‘have learned nothing in the last 35 years’.

So men get to ‘dress to impress’ and women get to ‘dress to undress’. I can’t see the problem myself. Other than the colour of the ‘fancy little knickers’ they used. The mannequin looks like an Arsenal player, only a bit taller. Which is such a turn-off. But heh; that’s me and my preconditioned, socially-induced sexist/Goonerist stereotyping issues that I am aware have a way to go in resolving.

I’m not saying that anyone, particularly the feminist fraternity (I know, but I had to) are over-reacting to this whatsoever. I think its justified vilification of a company with a rather large ‘pay gap’. And I think its appropriate for the Times to get a quote on this matter from the Count Dead Women Project (I wish I’d made that up but its real, its alive and it records the number of deaths of women caused by men). I mean, I don’t like women wearing Arsenal kits but I wouldn’t kill one. Maybe a Chelsea kit…

Ok, I struggle to understand the jump from ‘sexy underwear’ to murder, but that’s just because I’m a man! Probably. M&S doubtlessly use that window because their marketing department has shown that men love buying underwear for their partners. And even more surprising is that partners GENERALLY love to receive it. It means their man cares, thinks of them, ok, possibly thinks of the gorgeous salesgirl too, and finds them desirable.

Why can’t that window be viewed as a testament to women’s empowerment? You ‘must have’ fancy little knickers like Beyoncé and Lady Gaga wear on the stage, FFS. Two bastions of feminine empowerment. Lady Gaga’s ain’t bad either. Sorry.

The feminists didn’t complain about David Gandy in the other window causing men ‘handsome stress’ and ‘six-pack envy’ and reducing us to virtual eunuch status, did they? No. They didn’t.

I’m all for feminism, even let my wife buy MY knickers. And I’m all for equality. But as in all wars, you have to pick your battles. Otherwise you end up look like a totally obsessive, over-reactionary nob. Sorry again.

Happy Wednesday

A xxxx