Pregnant mannequin is offensive?
Categories: Pregnancy & birth, In the news, Shopping & recalls
I had to re-read this story twice to make sure I didn't miss something, but sadly I didn't. UK Shop-owner Amanda Bere really did remove a pregnant mannequin from the window of her lingerie store because some people found it offensive.
Bere opened her store, which specializes in lingerie for pregnant women, in Selby, North Yorkshire about eight weeks ago. She dressed her shop window with a mannequin she calls Emily in a black nursing bra and panties. She says it didn't take long for the mannequin, which is actually just a headless torso with a distinctly round belly, to become the target of complaints.
"It started with people looking in the window and making comments outside and they told me their points of view that they found it offensive," she says. "Other shop traders also told me that people were saying to them that it was offensive and that I should cover her up or move her. So I put a camisole on Emily and someone else made another comment, saying that they could still see the bump, so I put her in the corner of the shop away from the window."
Bere is trying to run a business, so I can understand why she wouldn't want to offend the locals. What I can't understand is just what is so offensive about a pregnant mannequin. Bere says the complaints came from the town's older residents. In fact, the video accompanying this story has an elderly woman expressing her opinion that the mannequin's large belly is "not pleasant look at."
I hope Bere returns Emily in all her pregnant glory to the front window. The people who are offended by it are probably not people who would shop there anyway.
Bere opened her store, which specializes in lingerie for pregnant women, in Selby, North Yorkshire about eight weeks ago. She dressed her shop window with a mannequin she calls Emily in a black nursing bra and panties. She says it didn't take long for the mannequin, which is actually just a headless torso with a distinctly round belly, to become the target of complaints.
"It started with people looking in the window and making comments outside and they told me their points of view that they found it offensive," she says. "Other shop traders also told me that people were saying to them that it was offensive and that I should cover her up or move her. So I put a camisole on Emily and someone else made another comment, saying that they could still see the bump, so I put her in the corner of the shop away from the window."
Bere is trying to run a business, so I can understand why she wouldn't want to offend the locals. What I can't understand is just what is so offensive about a pregnant mannequin. Bere says the complaints came from the town's older residents. In fact, the video accompanying this story has an elderly woman expressing her opinion that the mannequin's large belly is "not pleasant look at."
I hope Bere returns Emily in all her pregnant glory to the front window. The people who are offended by it are probably not people who would shop there anyway.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Anette 8-10-2008 @ 2:00PM
I guess (some of) The British People wouldn't like this site with sexy maternity lingerie!
http://www.hotmilklingerie.co.nz/
Best!
Anette
Reply
Ash 8-10-2008 @ 2:31PM
Can you say PRUDE?!! Why on earth is it offensive to see a pregnant woman in a lingerie? It's a fact of life people so get over it! You can be sexy whenever you like and there's nothing offensive about a pregnant woman showing her belly.
Reply
Jenn 8-10-2008 @ 2:46PM
bwah?
Why is the pregnant mannequin offensive, but the ones in Victoria's Secret or whatnot aren't?
That has got to be the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard.
Reply
DIANA 8-10-2008 @ 3:40PM
I THINK IT'S SAD THAT SHE MOVED IT. JUST BECAUSE IT SHOWS A PREGNANT BELLY? ARE THEY HIDING THERE PREGNANT WOMAN TOO? COME ON ALREADY! IT'S NOT OFFENSIVE. IF YOUR SELLING MATERNITY LINGERIE THAN IT'S WELL SUITED TO FIT THAT MANNEQUIN. PUT IT BACK. AND LIKE SOMEONE ELSE COMMENTED, WHICH I AGREE: WHOM EVER IS COMPLAINING WON'T SHOP AT THE STORE ANYWAY SO WHO CARES WHAT THEY THINK?!
Reply
mary beth 8-18-2008 @ 5:48PM
I am a mixed media artist that paints pregnant mannequins and sells them for store display and for personal collections.
I see my work as a celebration of women in a shapes and stages of their lives." Offensive?!!!!!???" What is going through the minds of those offended. mary beth galer Steamboat Springs, Colorado, USA
Reply