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.

[mswibble]

It was last weeks episode, still on iPlayer but a new episode on tonight at 9pm, BBC2. Not sure if last weeks will remain on after that.

[Meglet]

Glad it's not just me who was getting the rage watching it.

[BoffinMum]

Nobody should have to wear make up unless they want to. It is perfectly possible to look very well groomed for work with nothing on your face at all.

[IsabellaRockerfeller]

There are "grooming" type standards for the men too - rules on the length of hair, facial hair, aftershave etc so it's not completely one sided.

But I do agree that needing to wear lipstick should not be a requirement of the job.

[Meglet]

exactly boffinmum. IMO groomed is crisp clothes, polished shoes, tidy hair and nails and a clean face.

Make up has nothing to do with grooming.

[Itsfab]

She wasn't booted off the course for not putting her lipstick on enough . She was booted off for getting four snap shots and the last one happened to be for non application of lipstick. I think it was obvious from the first show that she wouldn't make the grade.

[ReallyFuckingFedUp]

I think you might be slightly missing the point

[merrymouse]

That huffington post video is odd. I thinkstrong lipstick colour can look dated and bit OTT. It really isn't a look that suits everyone, particularly during the day.

If you were giving image advice to a woman in a high powered professional positions (high court judge, surgeon, scientist) you'd probably advise them that very obvious make up wasn't appropriate.

[ReallyFuckingFedUp]

thinkaboutittomrow That urinal is shocking even by Virgin standards

[Itsfab]

Not at all. I was responding to the OP which was incorrect.

[Itsfab]

Yes, given that she knew the score and given how she wasn't doing very well the reason why is irrelevant from the point of view that she would probably have failed on something else.

If they gave a snap shot to a man for not fully shaving then I would put that in the same category as not applying lipstick or keeping hair neat and tidy.

[Roseformeplease]

My sister used to work for an Asian airline where they not only specified standards of grooming for while working but also for when off duty on layovers. This even specified waxing, what kinds of bikini shoudk be worn and things like nail varnish etc. While on layover, they were being funded by the airline (usually a night in a cheap hotel) but still....apparently, the manual of grooming standard was 4 inches thick and even covered grooming of places that would never be on show.

[ReallyFuckingFedUp]

If four get you sacked and she wouldn't have had a fourth if not for that...it sounds accurate to me.

"knowing the score" doesn't make it acceptable. It's sexism.

[SunshineCloud]

My sister is a crew, not for BA though. She explained that all the standards are set from the safety aspect: bright make up= people pay more attention to what you say, hair in a knot= avoiding the gap in a smoke hood , the thing they suppose to put on if they are fighting fire on board. Anyway, it all made sense to her, I agree with the fact , that these are smart girls and they knew what they were getting themselves into.

[CaptChaos]

I don't wear make up. It's partly because I can't be arsed, partly because my skin doesn't like it much and partly because, why the fuck should I? So, I am a silly little girl and look like shit.....

I have flown in and out of JFK and other US airports with BA many many times. The US hostesses have always looked fine to me, they look competent, are friendly and helpful and seem to know their onions. Things people are more concerned about than whether or not they are wearing the correct shade of bloody lipstick and are applying it often enough.

[losingmybelt]

I think cabin crew should look smart (and will probably be shot down in flames for saying this), but on the 'better' airlines, a lot of passengers expect a cerain 'standard' from the cabin crew - ability as well as personal presentation is important.
It's all part of the package.

I do think its a bit rich to fire somebody for not applying lipstick often enough, but I bet that was taken out of context and/or possibly exagaerated.

[tribpot]

bright make up= people pay more attention to what you say

So the male cabin crew should - what - do themselves like Mel Gibson in Braveheart? (In fact this would be an awesome look for all cabin crew and would be quicker than all this bloody makeup as well).

Long hair up is an obvious safety/hygiene thing, same as you would see in hospital or the police. Bright make up is a dated, sexist concept. Just because female cabin crew [have no choice but to] accept it, doesn't make it right. They're not geishas.

[ReallyFuckingFedUp]

well in that case they would make men wear makeup (for safety sake)

THey would also not let you wear heels up and down a tiny stair case.

that these are smart girls and they knew what they were getting themselves into.

Finding this line a bit weird tbh.

WHo is debating the intelligence of the women anyway?

[ReallyFuckingFedUp]

it sounds like your sister was sold the "safety aspect" of makeup so the company involved could not look sexist while being sexist

[tribpot]

Btw I honestly don't think anyone in a plane emergency of any kind, would ignore the cabin crew merely because their faces weren't plastered in makeup. I think the uniform confers the authority.

[Roseformeplease]

And you can hardly argue that frequent bikini line waxing is a safety feature.....(someone more amusing than me might be able to say how it is safer to have a bald minge - no chance of charring in a fire?)

[joanofarchitrave]

'bright make up= people pay more attention to what you say'

I.e. a woman who is not focused primarily on her appearance at a considerable cost of time, money and attention (reapplying lipstick regularly for example) is NOT WORTH LISTENING TO. Jesus Christ.

Has anyone told Barack Obama to experiment with brighter make up to improve his ability to get legislation through Congress?

[departs to go and work off rage pulling up weeds - be afraid, bindweed]

[CaptChaos]

on the 'better' airlines, a lot of passengers expect a cerain 'standard' from the cabin crew

They do. I tend to appreciate professionalism, friendliness and the ability to do their job. I have no problem with the men not wearing half an inch of make up, why would anyone have a problem with women not?

Unless they buy in to sexism of course?