Flight Attendants Aren’t Apple-Licking, Bikini-Wearing, Male-Coddling Sex Objects

This is your lucky day, readers — I have a deal for you! I’m sitting at home next to a bowl of shiny red apples that I plan on kissing. Want to own one of these kissed apples? They can be yours for $15 a piece. I’m sure you want them. Why wouldn’t you? They were kissed by a flight attendant!

Apparently this sales pitch, which may sound odd to you, may actually work in China, where flight attendant-kissed apples are being sold online complete with professional photos and video teasers of the fruits being cuddled. My offer is actually a bargain since the going rate is as much as $20.

The original story is a few months old, but it has just come to my attention – and in the same week as an article attempting to answer the perennial question: why do men fall in love with air hostesses? While the article’s theory is that flying makes men feel vulnerable and flight attendants offer a sense of control (I suppose that could be a part of it), I just can’t help but think of stories and images like this one.

I’m sure it has nothing to do with the job being sexualized for decades (and still). 󾌦 https://t.co/RAhULLx9aZ

— Sarah Steegar (@FATravelWriter) April 9, 2016

There was a third story of sexualized flight attendant this past week — this one was about VietJet, the Vietnamese airline famous for its bikini-clad flight attendants. The airline’s CEO is about to become Vietnam’s first female billionaire and most outlets are announcing the news by referring to VietJet as the “bikini airline.” Never mind that bikinis aren’t actually their regular uniform (I’ve been on VietJet — I can confirm there wasn’t a navel on display anywhere), this particular stunt gets credit for the airline’s success. The articles rarely mention the truth of the matter: VietJet is a good low-cost alternative with a generally slick, fun image.

The sexualization of the job by the airlines may have passed its peak in the U.S., but it’s still kicking internationally and in passengers’ collective imaginations. Our companies may not be allowed to exploit so directly, but there are less direct ways – i.e. via the stories and images permitted at some other carriers. Remember Richard Branson openly insisting on the red shoes for Virgin’s female flight attendant uniforms to “sex up” the brands? How about the fact that many of British Airways’ female crew only recently won the right to wear slacks? The first few times I mentioned “flight attendant” on Twitter I got a slew of, ahem, interesting followers.

Meanwhile, it didn’t escape my attention that the “men love flight attendants” article still referred to us as “air hostesses.” I’m not offended, but it’s a bit old-fashioned for their modern theory. I also noticed that the article’s romantic examples are limited to what can be summed up as “sometimes male celebrities end up with flight attendants.” There isn’t any input from regular guys, so the article doesn’t convince me much. When I think of the women that male celebrities would categorically go for, it’s not usually about those who make them feel safe when they’re vulnerable. Unless that’s what Victoria’s Secret models do for them, too?

Don’t think I’m totally cynical. I think the celebrity/flight attendant pairings are ultimately about the fact that our job gives a rare opportunity for extended one-on-one mingling in what is, for a celebrity life, a circumstance in which they are treated rather “normally.” That can be attractive in itself. But when it comes to the claim that men in general “love to fall in love with flight attendants,” sure, I’d prefer to think it’s about our reassuring presence in the midst of vulnerable situations. However, what actually comes to mind is the fact that some men would pay good money for old food I’ve kissed based solely on my job.

[Photo: CEN]