Is it discriminatory that Airlines only allow pretty flight attendants?

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Rozellelily

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While probably not legal to this,it is common knowledge that (female) applicants for flight attendants will usually only get the job if they are very pretty.

I have heard of “less traditionally attractive” ones missing out on jobs or flights (of course the airlines wont say that it’s for this reason though for fear of being sued).

I came across this old (2017) article regarding Russian hostesses.
In my opinion,it is similar mentality here in Australia,the only difference is that in Russia they are open about it but in Australia they won’t be open about it (not hiring for looks) due to fear of being sued for discrimination.

I have read that in USA there is less focus now on flight attendants being pretty but I don’t know if this is true or not?

Is the idea of women having to be pretty to get flight attendant jobs discrimination or is this just nature/natural way made by God?
(Ie:that woman’s role will always be expected to be pretty and be judged off that).

Ps.I don’t want to be a flight attendant,I’m just curious:)

 
First of all, not all flight attendants are pretty. With all that I have seen, most are just average who are primped up with heavy makeup. Not ugly, but not pretty either.

In my entire life, I have seen only a handful of people that are really pretty or handsome. Facewise, most people are just meh. This is the reality.
 
fin said:
In my entire life, I have seen only a handful of people that are really pretty or handsome. Facewise, most people are just meh. This is the reality.
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I am sorry that you were in the wrong queue when God handed our attraction.
 
Rozellelily said:
While probably not legal to this,it is common knowledge that (female) applicants for flight attendants will usually only get the job if they are very pretty.
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I am in the US and no, this is not “common knowledge”. It is also not accurate. Airlines hire flight attendants (male and female) based on qualifications.
Rozellelily said:
I have heard of “less traditionally attractive” ones missing out on jobs or flights (of course the airlines wont say that it’s for this reason though for fear of being sued).
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Clearly you are unfamiliar with the scheduling system for flight crews. It’s all done by computer along with bidding based on seniority. The people doing the scheduling are back office employees who do not personally know the people they are scheduling.
Rozellelily said:
Is the idea of women having to be pretty to get flight attendant jobs discrimination
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Yes.
Rozellelily said:
or is this just nature/natural way made by God?
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God has nothing to do with it.
Rozellelily said:
Ie:that woman’s role will always be expected to be pretty and be judged off that).
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That does not come from God.
 
Rozellelily said:
Is the idea of women having to be pretty to get flight attendant jobs discrimination or is this just nature/natural way made by God?
(Ie:that woman’s role will always be expected to be pretty and be judged off that).
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God doesn’t give a flying fig about how attractive we are. We shouldn’t either.
 
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Is that how you really perceive it?
For me,I think a lot of people are at least somewhat attractive but I find attractiveness in all sorts of things.
 
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I’ve seen all kinds of flight attendants.The ones with genuine smiles and a caring attitude make it a more memorable trip.
 
1ke said:
I am in the US and no, this is not “common knowledge”. It is also not accurate. Airlines hire flight attendants (male and female) based on qualifications.
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I mean no disrespect,but you mentioned you are from the US so I think your answered is “US centric”.
I mean,things (cultural practices) have changed recently in US due to a heavy focus on feminism and political correctness etc so it may be different in the US than in some other countries as there is more focus in US on “gender equality issues” and things are perceived a certain way (eg:feminist issues).
It is no secret that female flight attendants have traditionally been very pretty and I don’t think that is just mere coincidence.
 
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Yes. That is why celebrities and models are the exception than the rule, looks wise.

Above average facial bone structure is not common. Of course, there is plastic surgery, but I am referring to people that have naturally attractive faces. Majority of the people in the world are average looking.

When it comes to flight attendants, as a passenger, I am appreciative of theirgood customer service, not so much the looks.
 
Sometimes I see it that way but at other times I don’t (because God created the beauty and different “levels” of attractiveness).
 
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Some societies find heavier women to be the pinnacle of beauty. Others favor women with no meat. Some think blonde hair is where it’s at, while some like raven-black.

Physical traits are like colors. Everyone has a favorite, but the appeal is largely subjective.
 
Rozellelily said:
It is no secret that female flight attendants have traditionally been very pretty and I don’t think that is just mere coincidence.
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Like someone else said, a lot of it has to do with makeup. Most women look a lot better with it than without.
 
Yes, it is discrimination.

The questions that really matters iare different. Are all kinds of discrimination bad? Is picking only beautiful women to be flight attendant bad?
 
Good question.
I guess it is bad if it causes someone else who is not “traditionally beautiful” to not get the job even though they have the right qualifications and also if it makes certain young girls (or even older women) feel worth lesser because they weren’t born genetically blessed.
 
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Aulef said:
Yes, it is discrimination.

The questions that really matters iare different. Are all kinds of discrimination bad? Is picking only beautiful women to be flight attendant bad?
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Yes. Beauty should not be a pre req.
 
Beauty is highly subjective and varies significantly from culture to culture. As a result, conversations about attractiveness are rarely fruitful.
 
In the US, up through the 70s, It used to be that flight attendants had to maintain a certain weight, and they could be suspended or fired for going over.
They also had to maintain a certain standard of grooming and poise.
These were official policies.
Not explicitly spelled out, but “everyone understood” that they also had to be pretty.
It’s no longer the case.

I can’t speak for other countries.

Of course it’s unfair.
 
Being beautiful could be a qualification for a job as well. Looking at beautiful people (beautiful things actually) usually makes one feel better. This is scientifically proven. And making clients more comfortable is very important in stressful moments such as a flight.

So, besides asking for technical qualifications, in certain cases physical characteristics would be important pluses as well.

Here is another example. I know a person whose grandma needs a caretaker 24/7. She is a very shy and conservative person and the work requires body cleaning and changing diapers. Thus, her family was pretty sure they needed to discriminate what kind of caretaker they would hire. They went exclusively after women. And gave preference to people over 40. They discriminated. And it is fine.
 
I would say beauty is an absolute thing. It has certain universal features such as balance, harmony and symmetry. It is the eue of the beholder that may miss them.

There is a classic book/documentary called “Why Beauty Matters” that explores this idea. (Edit: it isn’t catholic although it shows Catholic beauty in art and music and it has some shocking scenes, so beware)
 
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