Your M&S Target Audience

M&S seem to have a varied target audience.  The common appearance of attractive (often scantily clad) women enjoying themselves is a timeless winner, it gives women something to relate to and men thoughts to be fellated to. It appears to me that M&S try and sell to whole families but mainly target mothers, as well as unmarried female adults. By using techniques such as women in underwear respectfully they draw in the attention of male family members but succeed in overcoming the ever-growing hurdle of political-correctness in terms of sexism. 

The women in these adverts aren't shown as sexual objects, but strong and independent, however in their christmas 2009 advert they did receive a few complaints (as everything seems to these days) regarding the “Oh, come on, it's Christmas. That girl prancing around in her underwear" comment, aimed at Noemie Lenoir. 

Recently a campaign by Lynx, famous for it's sexual suggestion and tongue-in-cheek approach to ads, has received similar scrutiny resulting in it's removal from the public - which you can read about here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-15849142