Qantas Drops “Gender-Inappropriate” Terms for Addressing Passengers
Joe Cortez March 06, 2018
In a move to create more inclusion in the skies, Qantas will remove “gender-inappropriate” terms among its ranks in favor of more generic phrasing for addressing passengers. Common terms, such as “guys,” “love,” “honey,” and “husband and wife” are among the newly banned terms for cabin staff.
As part of Qantas’ “Spirit of Inclusion” campaign, the Australian carrier is working to remove “gender-inappropriate” terms among their cabin crews. The New Daily reports that the Australian airline has removed several common terms from their approved vocabulary list, in hopes of creating a friendlier experience for everyone.
Some of the terms removed are common phrases, which include (but are not limited to) “guys,” and “husband and wife,” or “mom and dad” when addressing children about their parents. Other terms, including “love” and “honey,” are more archaic and have been rapidly phased out of corporate phrase books in the 21st century.
In addition, the airline is also taking a softer approach on approaching the arrival of Europeans to the
island continent from the 18th century onward. Instead of using terms like “settlement” or “settlers,” Qantas’ cabin crews are now being trained to use such terms as “colonization, occupation, or invasion,” in light of the indigenous peoples who called Australia home prior to European arrival.
“We have a long and proud history of promoting inclusion among our people, our customers and society,” Lesley Grant, leader of the people and culture group at Qantas, wrote in the information sheet according to The New Daily. “Including support of indigenous issues, gender parity in business and marriage equality.”
Although some are calling the new phrase book a step forward, not everyone is as pleased with the changes. In a radio interview, former Australian prime minister Tony Abbott called the changes “rubbish.”
“Qantas staff are very good people, they are decent, sensitive people, and they don’t need this kind of nonsense. It is an insult to them,” Abbott said in an interview, according to The New Daily. “This is …the very weird and strange times in which we live.”
The move is the second show of inclusion by Qantas introduced this year. Earlier in March, the carrier debuted a new livery for their latest Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner delivery, inspired by indigenous artist Emily Kame Kngwarreye.
[Photo: Shutterstock]
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One less customer for QANTAS after this move. Stupid. Irrational. Soon Australia will not just be 'politically correct'. It will be full blown communist. The left simply does not know when to stop. By the way the #Qantas move has nothing to do with the gay community. It is not all limp wristed spineless, snowflakes but honest to goodness, down-to-earth folks. What about this anomaly then... Gay 'married friends' of mine, love to talk about their partner as "my husband". If you do not like the QANTAS move, vote with your feet and your wallet. Spend elsewhere. There is nothing Gender inappropriate about using ageless references such as husband and wife. My new hastag #PCQantassucks. If you agree, then share it...PLEASE.... My new hastag #PCQantassucks. If you agree, then share it...PLEASE.... My new hastag #PCQantassucks. If you agree, then share it...PLEASE....
SMH!
Lefties? what a dumb comment
At some point, boneheads, like the folks who made this decision, will come to understand they aren’t improving “inclusion”, they are offending a very large population of customers. Someone who was born in New Zeland or Australia is just as much a native as the so called indigenous people, the rest are emigres or visitors. I challenge these politically correct yahoo’s to show me any country that hasn’t been invaded at some point in history, there is no such thing as indigenous people, we all came from the same barbarous warrior roots. It’s an insult to be stereotyped as anything, let alone an invader or colonizer. This is idiocy, absolute idiocy, obviously Quantis is doing so well that’s this is their management priority. Time to short Quantis shares.
I have never read such a load of tosh, we all know Australia is the nanny state which is why we left after living there for three years. What is it with bleeding heart morons who believe they can change the past the present and future by introducing a few mealy mouthed words and phrases? history is history and trying to change peoples perception of what happened is futile, perhaps you can try that on the jews regarding the holocaust as for the present people do like to be called mum and dad. kids like the security oc calling their parents mum and dad and just because Australia is the home to millions of gays and lesbians isn't going to change that either, The whole process is disgusting and demeaning and that a corporation such as Qantas feels it has the right to impose such rubbish on its staff and ultimately its customers defies belief. Grow up for God's sake you are a laughing stock in the international community and the butt of music hall jokes "hey heard the one about the Aussie airline?"