The closure of Hooters in Bristol on Monday has been attracting attention on blogs as well as news sites. Here are some of the links:
Sian and Crooked Rib - A victory for equality as Hooters closes its doors
Madam J-Mo - Hooters in Bristol has closed
Guardian, Comment is Free - Closure of Hooters 'breastaurant' is a welcome step for women
The F Word - Bristol Feminist Network on closure of Hooters Bristol
Huffington Post - Bristol Hooters Closes, Feminists Celebrate Victory Over 'Retro-Sexist Establishment'
Tim Worstall - It had to be Bristol that Hooters went Bust in, didn’t it?
Something Doing - The problem with Hooters closing
Ephemeral Digest - Hooters gone?
Saturday, 11 February 2012
Wednesday, 8 February 2012
News coverage of Bristol Hooters' closure
A few trickles of news coverage about the closure of Hooters in Bristol.
Here it is on the BBC News website: “Bristol Hooters restaurant closes”. (Thanks for the link to our site, BBC!)
And a suitably inaccurate article in the notoriously unsupportive Bristol Evening Post (for instance, despite what the headline tells you, Hooters wasn’t a “burger chain” – it sold chicken wings and “curley fries” [SIC]); the Brighton branch of Hooters has thankfully never opened; and the petition gained 1,500 signatures, not the 700 mentioned…): “American burger chain Hooters closes restaurant on Bristol Harbourside"
Bristol Fawcett has also released a short statement about the closure of Hooters:
“Bristol Fawcett, together with many others, protested about and campaigned against the opening of Hooters on Bristol’s Harbourside in autumn 2010.
"The Hooters brand is outdated and does not have a place in any modern city that values equality. The men, women and children of Bristol always deserved better than a restaurant that served women up as sexual commodities, on the menu alongside chicken wings and fries. The Hooters mix of marketing offer, catering both to stag parties and children’s birthday parties, was particularly toxic.
"It is never a cause for celebration that a business has failed, and we are mindful that people have lost their jobs. We hope that whatever new business arrives to take up residence in the heart of Bristol’s historic Harbourside will be more in tune with the progressive aspirations of our city.”
Here it is on the BBC News website: “Bristol Hooters restaurant closes”. (Thanks for the link to our site, BBC!)
And a suitably inaccurate article in the notoriously unsupportive Bristol Evening Post (for instance, despite what the headline tells you, Hooters wasn’t a “burger chain” – it sold chicken wings and “curley fries” [SIC]); the Brighton branch of Hooters has thankfully never opened; and the petition gained 1,500 signatures, not the 700 mentioned…): “American burger chain Hooters closes restaurant on Bristol Harbourside"
Bristol Fawcett has also released a short statement about the closure of Hooters:
“Bristol Fawcett, together with many others, protested about and campaigned against the opening of Hooters on Bristol’s Harbourside in autumn 2010.
"The Hooters brand is outdated and does not have a place in any modern city that values equality. The men, women and children of Bristol always deserved better than a restaurant that served women up as sexual commodities, on the menu alongside chicken wings and fries. The Hooters mix of marketing offer, catering both to stag parties and children’s birthday parties, was particularly toxic.
"It is never a cause for celebration that a business has failed, and we are mindful that people have lost their jobs. We hope that whatever new business arrives to take up residence in the heart of Bristol’s historic Harbourside will be more in tune with the progressive aspirations of our city.”
Tuesday, 7 February 2012
Tuesday, 6 December 2011
Festive sexism - take a stand!
It’s Christmas time, mistletoe and wine… If you’re heading to your work’s Christmas party this year, hopefully it’ll be a fun excuse to let your hair down at your company’s expense. With any luck, the worst that’ll happen is you’ll wake up the next day with a sore head. And that’s what the case will be for most people.
But there is still a tiny percentage of companies who have their heads in the 1970s and think that sexism (the belief that one gender deserves inferior treatment) is still just peachy. Whether it’s inappropriate comments or gestures towards colleagues (drunkenness is no excuse), or the location of the party in a retro-sexist dive (like Hooters)… you don’t need to accept workplace sexism.
And with regards to your business’s Christmas party: it doesn’t matter if sexism happens outside of the workplace because it is still your company’s concern.
We should also add that we realise sexism works both ways – and men can be just as affected by sexism as women. It’s also perfectly reasonable for men to be offended if their office has chosen to host their staff party in Hooters or a similarly offensive dump.
If you’re going to your work’s Christmas party, or you’re organising your office Christmas do, please make sure you’re doing so fairly.
The Facts
Despite 40-years of anti-discrimination legislation in the UK, sexism is sadly still rife in many companies (certainly not all – and we salute the many companies that are pleasant and fair places to work).
Too often, sexism fails to be identified or called up, often because the victims don’t realise why it is they feel so uncomfortable or upset. Often it is because - via the media and peer pressure - they’re told to accept casual sexism, and made to feel frigid for taking a stand.
It shouldn’t be that way.
A 2008 report from the Fawcett Society shows workplace sexism lurks:
In the office, where 16% of men who have access to the internet have viewed pornography at work, and 15% of men have emailed sexual images to colleagues.
When entertaining clients, and it has become increasingly common to entertain clients in lap dancing clubs. Lap dancing clubs are increasingly targeting the corporate sector through tailored marketing.
The Law
This advice comes from About Equal Opportunities: “Sexism in the workplace, though illegal, is still an issue across the United Kingdom. Though there are laws in place to protect the rights of all workers, many workplaces seem to ignore these laws and continue on as they see fit. A concerted effort from all employers and employees is needed to ensure that all individuals are treated fairly and with respect at work. And why would any one want to settle for any less?”
Discrimination at work is an important issue, and Directgov has clear guidelines about what action you can take.
Directgov says: “If you think you are being discriminated against you may be able to bring a claim to an Employment Tribunal for discrimination. However, it's best to talk to your employer first to try to sort out the matter informally. You are entitled to write to your employer if you think you have been discriminated against or harassed because of your sex.”
Acas (the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service) offers free, confidential and impartial advice on employment rights issues. If you are a member of a trade union, you can also get help, support and advice from them.
There may be outward signs that women are making progress at work, but a female at the top of a company doesn't neatly spell the end of sexism.
PS: Anyone who is planning a works Christmas do at Hooters (or a similarly sexist establishment) should bear in mind that they may be putting pressure on colleagues to attend an event in an environment where they may well feel uncomfortable, and which they may feel encourages inappropriate and sexist behaviour.
But there is still a tiny percentage of companies who have their heads in the 1970s and think that sexism (the belief that one gender deserves inferior treatment) is still just peachy. Whether it’s inappropriate comments or gestures towards colleagues (drunkenness is no excuse), or the location of the party in a retro-sexist dive (like Hooters)… you don’t need to accept workplace sexism.
And with regards to your business’s Christmas party: it doesn’t matter if sexism happens outside of the workplace because it is still your company’s concern.
We should also add that we realise sexism works both ways – and men can be just as affected by sexism as women. It’s also perfectly reasonable for men to be offended if their office has chosen to host their staff party in Hooters or a similarly offensive dump.
If you’re going to your work’s Christmas party, or you’re organising your office Christmas do, please make sure you’re doing so fairly.
The Facts
Despite 40-years of anti-discrimination legislation in the UK, sexism is sadly still rife in many companies (certainly not all – and we salute the many companies that are pleasant and fair places to work).
Too often, sexism fails to be identified or called up, often because the victims don’t realise why it is they feel so uncomfortable or upset. Often it is because - via the media and peer pressure - they’re told to accept casual sexism, and made to feel frigid for taking a stand.
It shouldn’t be that way.
A 2008 report from the Fawcett Society shows workplace sexism lurks:
In the office, where 16% of men who have access to the internet have viewed pornography at work, and 15% of men have emailed sexual images to colleagues.
When entertaining clients, and it has become increasingly common to entertain clients in lap dancing clubs. Lap dancing clubs are increasingly targeting the corporate sector through tailored marketing.
The Law
This advice comes from About Equal Opportunities: “Sexism in the workplace, though illegal, is still an issue across the United Kingdom. Though there are laws in place to protect the rights of all workers, many workplaces seem to ignore these laws and continue on as they see fit. A concerted effort from all employers and employees is needed to ensure that all individuals are treated fairly and with respect at work. And why would any one want to settle for any less?”
Discrimination at work is an important issue, and Directgov has clear guidelines about what action you can take.
Directgov says: “If you think you are being discriminated against you may be able to bring a claim to an Employment Tribunal for discrimination. However, it's best to talk to your employer first to try to sort out the matter informally. You are entitled to write to your employer if you think you have been discriminated against or harassed because of your sex.”
Acas (the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service) offers free, confidential and impartial advice on employment rights issues. If you are a member of a trade union, you can also get help, support and advice from them.
There may be outward signs that women are making progress at work, but a female at the top of a company doesn't neatly spell the end of sexism.
PS: Anyone who is planning a works Christmas do at Hooters (or a similarly sexist establishment) should bear in mind that they may be putting pressure on colleagues to attend an event in an environment where they may well feel uncomfortable, and which they may feel encourages inappropriate and sexist behaviour.
Thursday, 13 October 2011
We're still here...
I know this blog has been a little quiet in recent months, but don't worry... we're still very much here, and we're still very much keeping an eye on Hooters in Bristol and what they're up to. We're not the only ones, either... Various councillors at Bristol City Council are also concerned about the 'establishment' and an inquiry is pending. Watch this space.
Wednesday, 8 June 2011
Responding to some criticisms… Part Four
Many people think we are targeting the women who work at Hooters – whether by blaming them for choosing to work there, or by judging them. We regularly get accused of believing that the women who work there are unintelligent, have no other talents than their appearance, and that they have been forced to work there.
I cannot be much more clear than saying: we never said these things. Our campaign is not to put women out of work, nor to mock their ‘career choice’ (though one can’t help but wonder why, if they are as intelligent as they keep telling us they are, they fail to see they’re being exploited by a patriarchal system, or they use their often –mentioned qualifications and skills to earn a higher income in a better job. Recession issues, aside.) We have no argument with the individuals who have made the choice to work there, or enter bikini contests, or perform cheerleader and hula hoop routines in front of drunken men. We may wonder why they want to do it (and would welcome their comments – if given without abuse), but we are not telling them they should not do it.
We know that is not what feminism, equality and liberalism is about.
For ill-informed people to continually claim otherwise is unhelpful and misleading.
I cannot be much more clear than saying: we never said these things. Our campaign is not to put women out of work, nor to mock their ‘career choice’ (though one can’t help but wonder why, if they are as intelligent as they keep telling us they are, they fail to see they’re being exploited by a patriarchal system, or they use their often –mentioned qualifications and skills to earn a higher income in a better job. Recession issues, aside.) We have no argument with the individuals who have made the choice to work there, or enter bikini contests, or perform cheerleader and hula hoop routines in front of drunken men. We may wonder why they want to do it (and would welcome their comments – if given without abuse), but we are not telling them they should not do it.
We know that is not what feminism, equality and liberalism is about.
For ill-informed people to continually claim otherwise is unhelpful and misleading.
Responding to some criticisms… Part Three
Some people don’t understand the difference between objectifying women at Hooters, and objectifying men at Butlers in the Buff etc.
We don’t like the objectification of men anymore than the objectification of women. There are no grounds for suggesting otherwise. However, the people behind this campaign against Hooters are feminist activists (who also work on plenty of other feminist activist campaigns as well as the Hooters one) and therefore they concentrate their activism on issues affecting women. If somebody else wishes to campaign against the objectification of men in whatever form, I’m sure many of us will sign petitions and show support – but we don’t have the time to take this up. However, if it is an area any readers of this post are particularly concerned about, there are many ways they could get involved in taking a stand. It is an area that needs addressing.
As far as I’m concerned, the ‘argument’ that as men are objectified in magazines (such as Heat’s ‘Torso of the Week’ page), or as butlers with their bum cheeks hanging out, then it’s OK to objectify women in a similar way makes absolutely no sense. It makes as little sense to me as its sister ‘argument’ about there being plenty of young women on a Friday and Saturday night who go out wearing very little, or women on beaches wearing string bikinis. Come on, doubters, just join the dots of that nonsensical theory.
We don’t like the objectification of men anymore than the objectification of women. There are no grounds for suggesting otherwise. However, the people behind this campaign against Hooters are feminist activists (who also work on plenty of other feminist activist campaigns as well as the Hooters one) and therefore they concentrate their activism on issues affecting women. If somebody else wishes to campaign against the objectification of men in whatever form, I’m sure many of us will sign petitions and show support – but we don’t have the time to take this up. However, if it is an area any readers of this post are particularly concerned about, there are many ways they could get involved in taking a stand. It is an area that needs addressing.
As far as I’m concerned, the ‘argument’ that as men are objectified in magazines (such as Heat’s ‘Torso of the Week’ page), or as butlers with their bum cheeks hanging out, then it’s OK to objectify women in a similar way makes absolutely no sense. It makes as little sense to me as its sister ‘argument’ about there being plenty of young women on a Friday and Saturday night who go out wearing very little, or women on beaches wearing string bikinis. Come on, doubters, just join the dots of that nonsensical theory.
Responding to some criticisms… Part Two
Some people think that by focusing on the ‘safeguarding children from harm’ issues, we are being disingenuous about out true reasons for opposing Hooters: namely that we don’t like the inherent sexism of it.
I disagree that we’re being disingenuous, and feel that to suggest we are implies that we are being insincere and hypocritical in our approach. This is neither fair nor correct.
True, people who object to Hooters largely do so because it is a retrosexist company that normalises the objectification of women as only and always sex objects for the pleasure of men.
True, the current campaign is highlighting that Hooters in Bristol is breaching one of its four licencing conditions – namely the one stressing the importance of safeguarding children from harm. However, we didn’t choose which licence condition Hooters decided to breach – they did. It so happens to be the safeguarding children from harm condition, and we object to it. Just as we would if Pizza Express, Nando’s or any other restaurant chain exposed children to the same levels of sexual objectification and ‘grooming’ as Hooters appears to be doing.
NB: The current campaign is also objecting to Hooters on the grounds that a large number of residents have made complaints to both Hooters and the police about the noise and disturbance levels that have dramatically risen since Hooters opened. However, this part of the petition has attracted less public attention for obvious reasons.
I disagree that we’re being disingenuous, and feel that to suggest we are implies that we are being insincere and hypocritical in our approach. This is neither fair nor correct.
True, people who object to Hooters largely do so because it is a retrosexist company that normalises the objectification of women as only and always sex objects for the pleasure of men.
True, the current campaign is highlighting that Hooters in Bristol is breaching one of its four licencing conditions – namely the one stressing the importance of safeguarding children from harm. However, we didn’t choose which licence condition Hooters decided to breach – they did. It so happens to be the safeguarding children from harm condition, and we object to it. Just as we would if Pizza Express, Nando’s or any other restaurant chain exposed children to the same levels of sexual objectification and ‘grooming’ as Hooters appears to be doing.
NB: The current campaign is also objecting to Hooters on the grounds that a large number of residents have made complaints to both Hooters and the police about the noise and disturbance levels that have dramatically risen since Hooters opened. However, this part of the petition has attracted less public attention for obvious reasons.
Responding to some criticisms… Part One
Inevitably, the current campaign in Bristol regarding Hooters having (in our opinion) breached one of its four licensing conditions (safeguarding children from harm) has attracted some criticism – impressively little, but nevertheless some. That’s fine: we welcome constructive criticism, constructive comments, and other thoughtful opinions – so long as they are not willfully abusive or deliberately derailing. We have a clear policy of not engaging with abuse.
If someone politely and respectfully challenges me, I am happy to discuss the issues with them. Maybe I’ll change their mind – who knows, maybe they’ll change mine. So I’ve posted below some notes from an email I sent to someone earlier who politely queried a few issues they had with the campaign. I’ve done this because the questions they raised are the questions most commonly raised by most people who have hesitations about what we’re doing.
If someone politely and respectfully challenges me, I am happy to discuss the issues with them. Maybe I’ll change their mind – who knows, maybe they’ll change mine. So I’ve posted below some notes from an email I sent to someone earlier who politely queried a few issues they had with the campaign. I’ve done this because the questions they raised are the questions most commonly raised by most people who have hesitations about what we’re doing.
Tuesday, 7 June 2011
"Like women? Hate sexism?"
There is a guest blog post on Bristol Indymedia today (and for the future) about the campaign in Bristol against Hooters and the alleged breach of licence.
Please read the blog post here.
Please sign the petition here, and circulate the link as widely as possible. At the time of writing this short blog update, there are 1,136 signatures. This is wonderful, and thank you to everyone who has signed and supported. But there are so many more people out there who have yet to hear about this campaign.
By the by, this post on Jezebel appeared in December, but is new to the writer of this blog post here. Maybe you'll find it interesting.
Please read the blog post here.
Please sign the petition here, and circulate the link as widely as possible. At the time of writing this short blog update, there are 1,136 signatures. This is wonderful, and thank you to everyone who has signed and supported. But there are so many more people out there who have yet to hear about this campaign.
By the by, this post on Jezebel appeared in December, but is new to the writer of this blog post here. Maybe you'll find it interesting.
Monday, 6 June 2011
And another red top...
I wondered if the Sun or Star, or both, would pick this up - but today it's the Daily Star who's honoured the campaign with a classy headline: It's Chest Not Right. Thanks for the coverage, Richard Desmond :-)
Sunday, 5 June 2011
News is spreading...
A good blog post today from Bristol Labour councillor Thangam Debbonaire about the Hooters situation in the city.
Please follow this link to read it.
In Extra, Extra, Read All About It news... the 'Boob Cake' story has been picked up by:
DailyIndia.com - although they incorrectly place the story in London.
Newstrack India.
And the TruthDive website.
Please follow this link to read it.
In Extra, Extra, Read All About It news... the 'Boob Cake' story has been picked up by:
DailyIndia.com - although they incorrectly place the story in London.
Newstrack India.
And the TruthDive website.
Mail on Sunday backs the Close Hooters petition
While the Daily Mail or Mail on Sunday may not be a typical feminist friendly paper, they are agreed with us (in principal) that Hooters is not A Good Thing.
Today, they have printed a piece about the petition and the boob cake row. You can read it here.
Although the strength of the petition's argument (which has clearly been used as the basis of the story) has been weakened in their editing and re-writing, at least the story is getting out there to a wider audience.
Today, they have printed a piece about the petition and the boob cake row. You can read it here.
Although the strength of the petition's argument (which has clearly been used as the basis of the story) has been weakened in their editing and re-writing, at least the story is getting out there to a wider audience.
Saturday, 4 June 2011
Let the feminist bashing commence...
This morning, the BEP printed a story about the petition and Hooters allegedly breaching its licencing conditions. Here is the story. The story itself, as BEP pieces go, isn't too bad. The comments, un-moderated, are another thing. True, today (so far) there have been less of the abusive insults. Instead, there is a willful ignorance about the fact feminism even exists.
For example. A wag called DockLobster posted: Surely these "feminists" should be looking at other agendas rather than constantly picking on Hooters. What about the abundance of massage parlours on Stokes Croft, prostitution in St Pauls and Easton and strip clubs in the centre? There's more publicity in taking on a cake I see...
To which I, as EffOffHeff, replied: Firstly, I'm unclear why you put the word "feminists" in quote marks. I presume it is because you either think feminists are a made-up construct, or that you wish they were. Maybe you think it's a clever way of portraying your perceived "power" over feminists, by pretending they don't exist (though, if feminists don't exist, why does the BEP delight in regularly printing stories that generate the wealth of comments that they do? Oh right, because these so-say feminists annoy people like you, who enjoy posting misinformed comments that you think make you look smug). Maybe it makes you feel important, and better than them. That's up to you (it's also called 'patriarchy'). Go ahead and misuse punctuation all you like. Plenty of other people on here do it, too.
Secondly, the inconsistent reporting of the BEP (by which they only choose the more titillating feminist stories to report on, hence the boring wealth of Hooters stories they print) means that you - and any others who jump at the chance to join in some feminist-bashing, but can't be bothered to do some research of your own, or even engage with the council in your own way in order to gain an informed perspective on what's actually happening in our city - have no idea of the sheer wealth of feminist activity that happens in Bristol.
The BEP chooses not to report on the many, many other feminist campaigns in the city they apparently represent - that's their decision. It's not good news reporting, but that's the BEP for you. Having no rival newspaper in Bristol (aside from the WDP, which they also own), the BEP is in the luxurious position of being able to edit the news as they see fit. Sadly, this tactic means that people who only get their news from this one source have an equally narrow-eyed view on what happens in this city, tarnished with the same Daily Mail-inflected brush as the rest of what they print.
If I was you, I wouldn't be so quick to criticise others without arming myself with the facts first. I also wouldn't rely on the BEP as my sole source of news. However, presumably you just saw the word "Hooters" in the headline and, like your fellow unhelpful commenters here (and on previous stories) thought "yippee, an ideal chance to talk about something I don't understand and make myself feel powerful for 2 minutes". Good for you. Am sure you'll go far with such an open-minded approach.
I look forward (ahem) to logging on tomorrow and seeing what nonsense replies DockLobster and friends have come up with. Let the feminist bashing commence...
For example. A wag called DockLobster posted: Surely these "feminists" should be looking at other agendas rather than constantly picking on Hooters. What about the abundance of massage parlours on Stokes Croft, prostitution in St Pauls and Easton and strip clubs in the centre? There's more publicity in taking on a cake I see...
To which I, as EffOffHeff, replied: Firstly, I'm unclear why you put the word "feminists" in quote marks. I presume it is because you either think feminists are a made-up construct, or that you wish they were. Maybe you think it's a clever way of portraying your perceived "power" over feminists, by pretending they don't exist (though, if feminists don't exist, why does the BEP delight in regularly printing stories that generate the wealth of comments that they do? Oh right, because these so-say feminists annoy people like you, who enjoy posting misinformed comments that you think make you look smug). Maybe it makes you feel important, and better than them. That's up to you (it's also called 'patriarchy'). Go ahead and misuse punctuation all you like. Plenty of other people on here do it, too.
Secondly, the inconsistent reporting of the BEP (by which they only choose the more titillating feminist stories to report on, hence the boring wealth of Hooters stories they print) means that you - and any others who jump at the chance to join in some feminist-bashing, but can't be bothered to do some research of your own, or even engage with the council in your own way in order to gain an informed perspective on what's actually happening in our city - have no idea of the sheer wealth of feminist activity that happens in Bristol.
The BEP chooses not to report on the many, many other feminist campaigns in the city they apparently represent - that's their decision. It's not good news reporting, but that's the BEP for you. Having no rival newspaper in Bristol (aside from the WDP, which they also own), the BEP is in the luxurious position of being able to edit the news as they see fit. Sadly, this tactic means that people who only get their news from this one source have an equally narrow-eyed view on what happens in this city, tarnished with the same Daily Mail-inflected brush as the rest of what they print.
If I was you, I wouldn't be so quick to criticise others without arming myself with the facts first. I also wouldn't rely on the BEP as my sole source of news. However, presumably you just saw the word "Hooters" in the headline and, like your fellow unhelpful commenters here (and on previous stories) thought "yippee, an ideal chance to talk about something I don't understand and make myself feel powerful for 2 minutes". Good for you. Am sure you'll go far with such an open-minded approach.
I look forward (ahem) to logging on tomorrow and seeing what nonsense replies DockLobster and friends have come up with. Let the feminist bashing commence...
Petition is starstruck by supporters
The Close Hooters in Bristol Now petition has taken on a life of it's own this week. Since launching at 9am on Tuesday, May 31, it has gathered more than 880 signatures. The vast bulk of these were in the first 48 hours, but the number keeps on rising.
The petition - here's a link - has spread like wildfire over Facebook, Twitter, Blogs, Emails etc etc. So, an enormous THANK YOU to everyone who has signed the petition, shared the link in whatever form, and supported it whether in person or online, whether you know those behind it in real-life or simply in cyberspace. The amount of support received this week for the petition has been amazing, and the campaigners are all stunned that only a handful of people have chosen to berate them or pick holes in the argument. Clearly, they are not a tiny minority objecting to Hooters. They are a strong, very vocal and absolutely determined huge group... and they are not going away.
And I can't close this post without pointing out the very helpful celebrity support the petition has had from household names including Jonathan Ross and David Mitchell, as well as great support from names who are slightly less well known but certainly no less important. Thank you all.
PS - The story is in the Bristol Evening Post today. The story is OK, the comments (as always) are largely a load of nonsense. Here's a link.
The petition - here's a link - has spread like wildfire over Facebook, Twitter, Blogs, Emails etc etc. So, an enormous THANK YOU to everyone who has signed the petition, shared the link in whatever form, and supported it whether in person or online, whether you know those behind it in real-life or simply in cyberspace. The amount of support received this week for the petition has been amazing, and the campaigners are all stunned that only a handful of people have chosen to berate them or pick holes in the argument. Clearly, they are not a tiny minority objecting to Hooters. They are a strong, very vocal and absolutely determined huge group... and they are not going away.
And I can't close this post without pointing out the very helpful celebrity support the petition has had from household names including Jonathan Ross and David Mitchell, as well as great support from names who are slightly less well known but certainly no less important. Thank you all.
PS - The story is in the Bristol Evening Post today. The story is OK, the comments (as always) are largely a load of nonsense. Here's a link.
Tuesday, 31 May 2011
Please sign the petition
Hooters is breaching its licencing conditions by holding sex-themed events (bikini contests), and giving 12-year-old kids at birthday parties cakes featuring disembodied naked breasts and party bags filled with porny treats. Bristol City Council did not feel 20+ letters of complaint was sufficient, so please sign this petition and show them the strength of feeling there is about this.
On Wednesday, 11 May 2011, Hooters in Bristol held a widely promoted swimsuit contest in which its (young, female) staff dressed in bikinis to be judged by the customers. This event began at 7pm, two hours before children are excluded. There was no suggestion in their advertising of this event that it was restricted to adults and it is not accepted that any such restriction was in place.
Under the terms of their Licence (condition L13) Hooters are prohibited from providing any “adult entertainment or services, activities, other entertainment or matters ancillary to the use of the premises that may give rise to concern in respect of children. For example (but not exclusively), there shall be no nudity or semi-nudity”.
The licensing authority's definition of "nudity" includes toplessness. Therefore wearing a bikini for the purposes of entertainment is plainly semi-nudity.
Both the swimsuit contest itself and the failure to restrict children from the premises demonstrate a breach of licence.
The day after the swimsuit contest, a child's birthday party was held at Hooters in Bristol. He and his friends were served a pornographic birthday cake representing disembodied and life-like naked breasts, with the nipples fully displayed, decorated with the words “Happy 12th Birthday”, and in the Hooters colours of white and orange. The children were also given high-caffeine drinks and party bags containing sexualised Hooters merchandise.
Any premises licence holder must demonstrate that they are fulfilling the licence objective to protect children from moral, psychological and physical harm. Hooters, while claiming to be "family friendly” is exposing children to sexual entertainment - and not protecting them from harm.
On Wednesday, 11 May 2011, Hooters in Bristol held a widely promoted swimsuit contest in which its (young, female) staff dressed in bikinis to be judged by the customers. This event began at 7pm, two hours before children are excluded. There was no suggestion in their advertising of this event that it was restricted to adults and it is not accepted that any such restriction was in place.
Under the terms of their Licence (condition L13) Hooters are prohibited from providing any “adult entertainment or services, activities, other entertainment or matters ancillary to the use of the premises that may give rise to concern in respect of children. For example (but not exclusively), there shall be no nudity or semi-nudity”.
The licensing authority's definition of "nudity" includes toplessness. Therefore wearing a bikini for the purposes of entertainment is plainly semi-nudity.
Both the swimsuit contest itself and the failure to restrict children from the premises demonstrate a breach of licence.
The day after the swimsuit contest, a child's birthday party was held at Hooters in Bristol. He and his friends were served a pornographic birthday cake representing disembodied and life-like naked breasts, with the nipples fully displayed, decorated with the words “Happy 12th Birthday”, and in the Hooters colours of white and orange. The children were also given high-caffeine drinks and party bags containing sexualised Hooters merchandise.
Any premises licence holder must demonstrate that they are fulfilling the licence objective to protect children from moral, psychological and physical harm. Hooters, while claiming to be "family friendly” is exposing children to sexual entertainment - and not protecting them from harm.
Saturday, 14 May 2011
Hooters Bikini Contest
Just in case you were thinking this bikini contest nonsense "wasn't that bad", let's remember that Hooters is meant to be some sort of family friendly environment that you'd take your children to for a birthday party.
Let's take a look at what went on - we doubt the following images are safe for work:
As you can see, aside from being hardly "family friendly" this isn't even particularly "woman friendly". Sure, if you're young, white with a socially conventional "good figure" this might be a fun event to participate in, but we can't imagine many women paying £15 for a ticket to judge other women and enjoying the experience.
Let's take a look at what went on - we doubt the following images are safe for work:
As you can see, aside from being hardly "family friendly" this isn't even particularly "woman friendly". Sure, if you're young, white with a socially conventional "good figure" this might be a fun event to participate in, but we can't imagine many women paying £15 for a ticket to judge other women and enjoying the experience.
Bristol Evening Post's balanced reporting on Hooters shock!
So the Evening Post have finally managed to report on Hooters in a balanced way for a change.
Bristol Evening Post article on Hooters bikini contest
The Evening Post, which have previously been known for their desire to keep this future advertiser and discount Christmas party venue happy, have reported on the bikini contest following a complaint from Bristol University's Gender Violence Research Centre.
As usual, the comments below the article are full of misinformation and misogyny. We'd set the record straight but what's the point when those writing a kneejerk reaction don't want to hear about the reasons for the complaint or why this is different to wearing a swimsuit on the beach.....(and if you can't see the differences between that and girls parading up and down and being judged on their bikini clad bodies in front of a crowd of slavering losers....sorry, men.... then perhaps these people should stick to reading The Sun instead of challenging themselves intellectually with the Bristol Evening Post).
Those who can see the difference long ago stopped bothering to post on the Bristol Evening Post's webpage in response to the barrage of misogyny that always accompanies an article on Hooters. If we thought that our views would be taken seriously, we would take the time but those who type out the misogynist bile don't want to take a minute to consider why Hooters is so offensive and why the Centre for Gender Violence Research would take the time out of their day to bring this to the Council's attention.
We'll leave them to their simple ideas about feminism, empowerment and women's place in the world whilst we focus on those who can make a difference.
Bristol Evening Post article on Hooters bikini contest
The Evening Post, which have previously been known for their desire to keep this future advertiser and discount Christmas party venue happy, have reported on the bikini contest following a complaint from Bristol University's Gender Violence Research Centre.
As usual, the comments below the article are full of misinformation and misogyny. We'd set the record straight but what's the point when those writing a kneejerk reaction don't want to hear about the reasons for the complaint or why this is different to wearing a swimsuit on the beach.....(and if you can't see the differences between that and girls parading up and down and being judged on their bikini clad bodies in front of a crowd of slavering losers....sorry, men.... then perhaps these people should stick to reading The Sun instead of challenging themselves intellectually with the Bristol Evening Post).
Those who can see the difference long ago stopped bothering to post on the Bristol Evening Post's webpage in response to the barrage of misogyny that always accompanies an article on Hooters. If we thought that our views would be taken seriously, we would take the time but those who type out the misogynist bile don't want to take a minute to consider why Hooters is so offensive and why the Centre for Gender Violence Research would take the time out of their day to bring this to the Council's attention.
We'll leave them to their simple ideas about feminism, empowerment and women's place in the world whilst we focus on those who can make a difference.
Hooters in Bristol hosts its "inaugural" bikini contest
Well, well....who'd have thought that the oh so "family friendly" Hooters restaurant would start holding bikini contests? What a surprise. And they told us it was all about the food and the atmosphere and the hula hooping!
So on Wednesday, 11th May Hooters in Bristol held its first bikini contest implying that we have many more to look forward to. According to the terms of its licence it allows children in until 9pm and the bikini contest started at 7pm. What a great night for all the family!
During the (quite frankly, mockery of a) licensing hearing committee, Gallus Management's lawyer said:
Gallus’ lawyer said: “There isn’t anything about this that undermines the protection of children. I realise it is not for everyone. It is a restaurant with a uniform. Not a strip club. The uniform is not relevant to the licencing application.”
What about when the girls aren't wearing a uniform at all?
And we have this from the licence written decision:
Licence condition number 13: There shall be no adult entertainment or services, activities, other entertainment or matters ancillary to the use of the premises that may give rise to concern in respect of children. For example (but not exclusively), there shall be no nudity or semi-nudity, films for restricted age groups, the presence of gaming machines.
Bristol City Council are currently looking into whether this breaches a licensing condition or objective.
Given that the licence shouldn't have been awarded in the first place, the answer to that, Bristol City Council, would be yes.
Will BCC prove to be as spineless as they were when they approved the original application, even though the police objected to the licence being awarded?
We will wait and see.
In the meantime, if you want to object, please e-mail:
nick.carter@bristol.gov.uk and copy any councillors in that you think should be involved.
And don't forget to thank Marks and Spencer while you are at it for helping to inflict Hooters on our city.
You can e-mail to say thank you at:
chairman@marksandspencer.com
Saturday, 26 March 2011
Aww, shucks - Hooters are wishing us good luck
- Hi, Sorry to interupt, I would like to let you know that the artwork at the bottom of this page (which has been distorted)belongs to us and is copyrighted, (as stated on our website), would you be so kind to remove it please? Good luck with your cause, Kind regards Greg
We've encountered Greg before. Several times. He simply lurves to promote Hooters (heaven knows they need the business, the Bristol branch is always so empty whenever I walk by, that you can see the tumbleweeds drifting between the chasms of empty tables).Thing is, if you Google said person's name and "Hooters", nothing very official comes up - just some Facebook links. Perhaps it's not his real name. It's understandable to think he'd be embarrassed to work for a greasy breastaurant chain. He certainly should be.Anyhoo, back in October, Greg sent a colleague of mine a string of badly spelt and badly punctuated emails about why Hooters was such a great thing, and so supportive of women. One of his sentences best sums up how ill-informed Hooters is about women:They are treated like queens, they run the show, they look after themselves, in fact it is more "girl power" than anything else, isn't this meant to be what feminism stands for?No, Greg, that isn't "meant to be what feminism stands for". Feminism is about equality between the genders. And "girl power" is nothing to do with feminism - that was a tacky slogan invented by the Spice Girls' marketing team in the 1990s, but (like the Spice Girls) it's certainly nothing to do with feminism. Wake up, Greg, and smell the sexism. Women are people, too.You have a great day, now.
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