In the 1950s, the perception of a stewardess was that of an attractive young woman who could be single, widowed, or divorced. However, in the 1960s and 1970s, there was a movement to replace “stewardess” with “flight attendant” driven by the feminist agenda to eliminate gender-specific job titles, especially as more men joined the profession.
If you happen to travel with Virgin Atlantic during the holiday season, you may observe a notable shift in the appearance of flight attendants. This change is attributed to a new policy allowing visible tattoos and the adoption of uniforms that align with the individual’s gender identity.
Moreover, uniforms now incorporate pronoun markers, facilitating proper addressing of employees by passengers. Additionally, passenger passports will feature gender-neutral markers to accommodate non-binary travelers.
According to Jaime Forsstroem, a Cabin Crew member at Virgin Atlantic, the impact of this policy change is significant. In a video discussing the policy’s implementation, they expressed, “The updated gender identity policy is crucial to me. As a non-binary individual, it enables me to authentically express myself at work and make choices regarding my uniform.”