SpiceJet, a budget Indian airline, doesn’t even try to hide the bias in their staff recruitment policiesFlight attendants may show you to your seat and serve refreshments during the journey, but they are also the people who will take charge in an emergency, having studied and trained to deal with all kinds of situations, from terrorism to health problems. Sadly, however, in many cases they are still seen as being nothing more than cute or handsome waiting staff in the sky.
The perception of female flight attendants
It is the women who work in this field who bear the brunt of this sexism. Despite having to prove an incredible range of skills and abilities, and get through extremely tough selection and training processes to become a flight attendant, there is still a widespread belief that what matters the most is the way they look.
Indian airline stirs the pot
SpiceJet, a budget Indian airline, doesn’t even try to hide the bias in their staff recruitment policies. They made the headlines, and triggered many howls of outrage, after advertising for new recruits to fill several different positions in the company.
For the majority of these roles, applicants were asked to be motivated, good team workers, and willing to put their best foot forward at all times – all perfectly acceptable attributes in any employee. These pointers covered positions for pilots and other staff members. However, those interested in the flight attendant jobs were asked to meet an entirely different set of essential qualities.
SpiceJet’s cabin crew criteria
Women applying for these roles needed to be aged between 18 and 27 years (with a little leeway if they have prior experience), 155cm tall at the minimum, with a weight within the range for their height. They also had to be single, have flawless skin, and carry themselves well. Basically then, they should be stereotypically attractive, slim, single and young. So while other vacancies were looking at a candidate’s achievements, qualifications and experience, the female flight attendants were to be judged largely on age and physical appearance.
Will this harm SpiceJet?
It’s unlikely to have a major impact. The Indian airline industry is constantly struggling to make profits, and as well as some free publicity, this approach to recruitment is not terribly surprising. Apart from American owned airlines, most seem to hire female flight attendants who fit SpiceJet’s bill.
The sinister consequences
Sexualising the role of female flight attendants makes it difficult, if not impossible, to overcome the ever constant problems of sexual discrimination and harassment that staff experience in the workplace. These can be at an institutional level – both SpiceJet and Malaysia airlines have recently been accused of forcing female cabin crew to strip and be examined for unattractive things like tattoos or pimples which could be, they say, and without a hint of irony, visible through a uniform. They can also be at a customer level – with unwanted touching, comments and advances and other sexual harassment issues being a constant problem for female staff.
Of course, that’s hardly surprising as the entire system is set up to create inequality and encourage discrimination.
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