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.”

Personally I think the woman needs to get a grip of herself. I am offended by her predisposition to being offended.

Can’t answer that as I’m not a “bird”.
However it is offensive in its shit unfunniness.

Flipping heck! Is there a forum where people go around finding stuff to get offended about??

I’d say any who would wear it is likely to be a bit of a sadsack, and is very unlikely to have women (apart from their Mum) play a major role in their life

I was particularly impressed with Stainsberrys kiddies clothes a t-shirt from which said “I hate school”

I’d say overall, because of the negative connotations of covertly watching women through binoculars, yes it is.

There’s much more to get worked up about than this t-shirt though.

I am offended by her predisposition to being offended.

a) you don’t have the right to be offended suchly and

b) you should try being a woman some time.

Anonytagger = My Hero.

We don’t need no edjukayshun.

Seems like a useful way of identifying those that need to be culled.

Then there’s the advert that appears on the right when you open this post…. >>>>>>>

What is a Noise Bot?

b) you should try being a woman some time.

It’s not easy you know. Despite the clothes and make up, deep down, I know I’m still a man.

I didn’t do the tag, but I must say I agree with it 🙂

molgrips – Member

I am offended by her predisposition to being offended.

a) you don’t have the right to be offended suchly and

Irony LOLs – oh hang on were you being ironic?

SBZ – I take it as a badge of honour when the weak use the tags. You’re up there with me and TJ now.

Irony LOLs – oh hang on were you being ironic?

Not really, I was talking more along moral lines. As in you can’t blame someone else for being offended by something that is nothing to do with you, but everything to do with them.

Or to put it another way, it’s none of your business.

You’re up there with me and TJ now

Oh the accolade!

I think the shirt is offensive. Anything which perpetuates myths and misconceptions and reinforces stereotypes is offensive. This shirt almost celebrates the level of ignorance associated with the idea that binoculars result in two channels of monocular vision. Too often on TV do we see the view from binoculars represented as being’binocular’ shaped. This extends the stereotype to promote the idea that each lens will register a different image. I mean where do these image come from and if the binoculars are aligned properly, why aren’t they both showing the same thing? I’d like them to try drawing the ray diagrams which result in the images being represented here. Just ignorance and setting a poor example for kids. I think.

SBZ, I take it you brought the t-shirt?

“Somali Cerise, prevention manager” She’s just doing her job.

CM the picture represents the big end of the binoculars, so the dancing girls are reflections in the glass. That’s why the images are different.

Although if you were that close to get no overlap you’d not need binoculars.

CharlieMungus has a point – it’s just bad science.

CM the picture represents the big end of the binoculars, so the dancing girls are reflections in the glass.

But why would they reflect different things?

molgrips – Member

Irony LOLs – oh hang on were you being ironic?

Not really, I was talking more along moral lines. As in you can’t blame someone else for being offended by something that is nothing to do with you, but everything to do with them.

Or to put it another way, it’s none of your business.

Erm…you do see the irony in that I hope?

Well I see what you mean but SbZ posted it on an internet discussion forum for discussion – so I’m discussing it.

The point is, why does he feel so involved in the issue that he has to complain about her to all and sundry?

But why would they reflect different things?

Well if you are standing in between the girls and the bins, and the bins are say to your left – the first lens reflects the girls behind you and further to your left, and the second behind you and further still to your left.

Erm…you do see the irony in that I hope?

Nope.
He was discussing SbZ’s post, which is his business.

[edit] I notice you haven’t done that at all on the thread. How unusual.

you’d have to be a bit of a simpleton with zero style to wear it.. only your particularly thick mate.. or that lad at the tip.. the one who gets fun from putting twigs in stray dogs bottoms.. only they would find it genuinely funny..
everyone else would find it a little bit embarrassing due to it’s bad taste.. sexist or otherwise..

you would have to be pretty out of touch with the universe to think it was a worthwhile purchase if you were aiming to impress anyone with it..

the only way that I can see it having any valid use in society is if you and your wife have a sense of humour based on your appreciation for each others basic simple human faults.. and wish to remind each other with a t-shirt..

EDIT: after seeing jengledows link (which I kind of like a bit) I’m reminded of much worse T-shirts for the campaigners to get upset about if they think the shirt is promoting bad behaviour..
that shirt printed with ‘rohypnol.. helping **** like me get laid since 1983’ is a prime example..

ho hum (drum)

i’m now offended that someone could be offended at me being offended by them being offended.

I’d say any who would wear it is likely to be a bit of a sadsack, and is very unlikely to have women (apart from their Mum) play a major role in their life

^ This! As a woman, I think the shirt’s useful as you can see from a glance that the bloke probably reads Nuts and has an IQ that struggles to break into double figures.

I find the kids t-shirts that say stuff like “I hate school”, “Future WAG” and “WAG in training” more offensive.

JEngledow’s t-shirt is funny.

It is without doubt the most offensive t-shirt i have ever seen.

Turquise? A turquise t-shirt? With yellow text? yellow? Yellow and turquise?

I’m afraid by admittedly very delicate aesthetic receptors feel like they have been violated. I think i may have to lie in a darkened room for a while

Well if you are standing in between the girls and the bins, and the bins are say to your left – the first lens reflects the girls behind you and further to your left, and the second behind you and further still to your left

No

I’d say any who would wear it is likely to be a bit of a sadsack, and is very unlikely to have women (apart from their Mum) play a major role in their life

Well for a start it’d say ‘I buy my clothes from a supermarket’. I don’t think you’d need to delve much further than that really

How’s it offensive? It just lets you know that the person who wears it is a dick. Saves you, and other people who don’t like it, from wasting your time talking with them. Maybe more people should wear shirts that clearly remark their prejudices. At the same time, women who don’t mind being objectified and/or peered at from behind a bush can get strike up a conversation.

a) you don’t have the right to be offended suchly and

“Suchly” isn’t a word.

b) you should try being a woman some time.

Because there’s only one ‘type’ of woman? Because all women are the same? That’s just ‘positive’ prejudice; surely?

If find shopping at Tesco / people who are foolish enough to shop at Tesco offensive..

The T-shirt (as stated above )is a great way of letting the world know you’re a Townie d*ck…

Plus its a T-shirt, who cares – in the grand scheme of things there is far more to worry about in the World (or not as the case may be)

That jesus t-shirt. ……..I happened to be in someone’s house a few months ago who was wearing one (he was very ill, probably terminally) . When I mentioned ‘nice t-shirt’, he explained that it was bought in response to a local clergyman who had made a comment re his condition and a reference to ‘Gods life plan, works in mysterious ways etc etc’ which had really pissed him off at the time. We had a wry laugh about it.

Regarding the Tesco t-shirt, I agree with the above that it’s a quick and easy way of spotting a nobhead, so by selling them, Tesco are actually performing a service for women.

The t-shirts themselves are never as offensive as the conclusions i make about the wearers.

b) you should try being a woman some time.

Because there’s only one ‘type’ of woman? Because all women are the same? That’s just ‘positive’ prejudice; surely?

No, because you would experience how society behaves to women in general, and what it might feel like. You might not care, but you might.

Or to put it another way, try seeing things from someone else’s point of view instead of flaming them for having one.

Thing is, historically women are often the victim of things like stalking and voyeurism, it can be part of wider abuse and intimidation but it’s usually not very nice if it’s unwanted.

This t-shirt just makes a joke out of it.

It’s not particularly offensive. It is, however, shit, even by Tesco Value t-shirt standards.

Frankly if that’s the worst thing “Object” can find to object to, they might as well close up shop, their work is done.

Mate of mine once got asked in a restaurant to do something about his attire or leave. He was wearing this – http://images.esellerpro.com/2431/I/673/medscaleDSCF3341.JPG (SFW warning, picture contains rude word, hence not hotlinked). He ended up turning it inside-out for the duration of the meal.

This t-shirt just makes a joke out of it.

I think perhaps the tee makes a joke out of the type of ‘lad’ who would wear such a garment. Arguably, it’s irony (or I’m giving Tesco too much credit).

let’s be brutally frank here. The words ‘humorous’ and ‘t-shirt’ are hardly a match made in heaven, are they really? Ever!