Kittens Car Wash under fire from women’s group Collective Shout

Women’s group Collective Shout is the latest to lash out at a Bentleigh East business where bikini-clad women wash cars.

Kittens Car Wash has come under fire from a women’s group and local mum. Picture: Josie Hayden

Women’s group Collective Shout is the latest to lash out at a Bentleigh East business where bikini-clad women wash cars.

Kittens Car Wash, situated on the prominent corner of North and Warrigal roads, and particularly busy during warm months, has long drawn the ire of locals

And a women’s group is the latest to take aim at the business where all car washers are female, and wear only bikinis and g-strings.

Collective Shout campaigns manager Caitlin Roper said Kittens Car Wash, at the corner of North and Warrigal roads, was a sexist and outdated practice treating women as sexualised props.

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“We believe businesses like this that objectify women … we would love to see a world where that no longer exists,” Ms Roper said.

A mother who lives near the car wash, who does not want to be named, said it put women in a degrading and dangerous position.

She also said its provocative sign should also be removed.

Kittens car washers.

“Recently when I drove past the site with my two young boys in the car, a young woman was washing cars in a g-string bikini,” she said.

“I think the fact that this business is allowed to operate in such a public place is appalling and utterly inappropriate.”

She said there was an-all girls school and karate school nearby.

She has lodged a complaint with the Advertising Standards Bureau (Ad Standards) about the sign and complained to Glen Eira Council about the business.

But Kittens management hit back and said its advertising had always followed the Advertising Standards Bureau guidelines.

“Regardless, there have been many mainstream commercials run on billboards, television, and plenty of girls in bikinis on the beach who show their confidence and beauty behind their bikini,” the business said in a email to Monash Leader.

“If people find a problem with the way we choose to advertise our car wash, it’s time to start shaming all the mainstream media who choose to promote their companies with any female who chooses to wear a bikini.

“These females love what they do and have fun doing it.”

Glen Eira City Council planning and place director Ron Torres said “unfortunately” the council had no controls over women washing cars at the business.

Ad Standards said it had not received any complaints about the present billboard at the Kittens site which was different from the ones previously considered by the Ad Standards Community Panel.

It has investigated four complaints in the past about advertisements on the site — two were upheld and two were dismissed.

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