Wednesday, 18 January 2023
Female flight attendants are still pressurised to ‘look the part’, according to new research led by the University of Surrey
Researchers have found that gendered practices and pressures still persist within the industry.
They conducted interviews with current and recently employed flight attendants from a number of airlines.
They found attendants are informed of grooming and physical appearance standards through detailed manuals, such as ‘look books.’
These guides dictate every aspect of their physical appearance, from application of makeup to appropriate hairstyles.
British Airways says it allows male flight attendants to wear ‘natural’ makeup, nail polish and ‘man buns’, as part of its new uniform policy.
In 2019, Virgin Atlantic also removed its long-standing makeup requirement, as well as offering trousers to female stewards.
The study has been published in ScienceDirect.
posted by Radio Jackie News Team @ 7:06 am
