British Airways - lipstick

[foolishpeach]

I just caught up on last week's A Very British Airline, and I am really that Jodie was kicked off the training course for not reapplying her lipstick often enough.

The stupid prat who fired her didn't seem to be wearing any lipstick and neither did any of the male recruits.

It is just another example of standards being different and more onerous for women.

[outtolunchagain]

Glad someone posted about this , I was appalled , I can see that actually the girl who lost her job had many other issues but honestly for people to be so obsessed with makeup and hair in this day and age made me feel sick .It was institutional sexism at its worst , and frankly why they needed to taste the wine , ridiculous .

[ppplease]

That programme is an eyeopener to British Airways. And not in a good way.

[ppplease]

I have to say that I am not a big fan of feminism. But this really did seem to have partiarchy written all opver it.
How on earth could people at BA let the programme go through like that, exposing themselves in such a bad way.

I can only assume that their PR department is mainly male as well.

[Madcatgirl]

It's the same at ALL airlines. You have to look smart and this is part of it. It sets the right tone for the company, if you see staff looking like shit, you make a connection that if they're not taking care of the small details they're not taking care of the larger ones either.

You are representing your company (and country) on a global stage and should bloody well look smart and well groomed. If you don't like it, I suggest you don't fly. Ever.

The women who take these jobs are not silly girls, but grown women and if they don't like the contract they don't have to take the role. As for saying well the American staff were more relaxed, they were. They looked a bloody mess and do in real life too. I've flown in and out of JFK many times and they let BA down with their appearance.

I don't work for BA, never have.

[HermioneWeasley]

Outrageous, and I think they woukd struggle to defend if a sex discrim case was brought.

ppplease I am intrigued by your comment thT you're not a big fan of feminism. Not a fan of being able to vote, equal pay, not being fired for being a women, access to contraception and abortion, maternity leave, it being illegal for your husband to rape you. Not a big fan of those things? I hope you never avail yourself of any rights which feminists have secured for you.

[ppplease]

To be fairm and if I remember correctly, there is a young guy in NY? who dresses himself according to his male boss who has everything just so as well.

[ppplease]

Hermione. I didnt realise when I posted that I was in Feminism. So am going to do what I do when I fond myself in this predicament, and run away fast, before I get triple interrogated.

[ScarlettlovesRhett]

Agree that the women have an unfairly disproportionate amount of grooming to attend to compared with the men.

A neat and groomed appearance is enough, I do think the wearing make up and hair neatly up is fine - but the continued ott upkeep of make-up is ridiculous.

[foolishpeach]

The women who take these jobs are not silly girls, but grown women and if they don't like the contract they don't have to take the role.

But the contract is different for men and women and could well amount to sex discrimination.

Would it be ok if all jobs imposed these sorts of standards on women? What about women who can't/won't comply with those standards? Do they just not have a job?

[BikeRunSki]

A friend of mine walked out of a Virgin interview 15 years ago becuae of the make up policy.

[foolishpeach]

I agree kim.

Usually it is better hidden though - what has shocked me is that they aren't even ashamed of this policy and let it go out on national television.

At least when they are open about it, it is easier to question and fight it I suppose.

[HermioneWeasley]

ppplease. Don't worry, I would ask those questions regardless of which topic you posted in

[meditrina]

"Outrageous, and I think they woukd struggle to defend if a sex discrim case was brought."

There have been cases of this sort brought against Harrods a few years ago. As Harrods had detailed appearance policies for both sexes, they won.

For longhaired stewards, I can see why hair needs to be anchored out of the way, and I don't mind a certain level of 'house style' standards for a uniformed role.

But I'd rather see a practical uniform - flat or low heeled shoes, trousers or culottes - as the most important part of the role is dealing with in-flight emergencies. And clean/hygienic as they also handle food.

But endless lippie? Unnecessary, other than for 'image'.

Anyone know which (if any) airlines have less extreme appearance requirement?

[outtolunchagain]

But you can look clean and neat and smart IMO without being caked in make up .They are also excluding anyone with eczema or sensitive skin .

[ThinkIveBeenHacked]

A friend applied multiple times for Emirates and always got knocked back. She noticed that they had a preference for blondes, became blonde for thw next application and was accepted.

The cynic in me thinks the blonde was why.

[foolishpeach]

Interesting information about the Harrod's appearance policies meditrina.

Do you know if the court considered the amount of time and effort it took each respective sex to conform to the standard laid out? Or was it just that because each sex had one, the policies were therefore 'equal'?

[ReallyFuckingFedUp]

The women who take these jobs are not silly girls, but grown women and if they don't like the contract they don't have to take the role. As for saying well the American staff were more relaxed, they were. They looked a bloody mess and do in real life too. I've flown in and out of JFK many times and they let BA down with their appearance.

Do you really think only silly girls don't wear makeup? DO you really believe wearing lots of makeup equates to being good at your job?

Women's faces are not so hideous that they need to be hidden by makeup in order to look presentable. That is absolute fucking vile sexism.

[DinoSnores]

I thought it made BA look like a rather odd cult!

The video linked on this page is odd:

www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/jude-hurrell/british-airways-sexism_b_5482575.html

Curiously no-one has doubted my ability as their doctor because I'm not wearing lipstick!

[ReallyFuckingFedUp]

Also Pp how can you believe in the patriarchy but not be a feminist?

[ThinkIveBeenHacked]

What day/time/channel was it on?

[meditrina]

foolishpeach it was this case from 2011