TSA molests a 13-year-old girl traveling alone
Jul 29, 2011, 12:21 pm
#46
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: California. USA
Posts: 1,404
The first paragraph is mostly correct, as my brother and I used to fly around the country visiting relatives on summer vacation. I can't even imagine being that age in today's environment.
As to the airline's/the employee's responsibility, I have seen a few times where a gate agent escorts the UM and the charge dropping them off through the NoS-free employee lines where there is far less scrutiny than for other travelers. There may be a quiet move on the part of gate agents where they are proactively doing so to avoid the whole question. I've actually seen them pull people out of line to do so.
As to the airline's/the employee's responsibility, I have seen a few times where a gate agent escorts the UM and the charge dropping them off through the NoS-free employee lines where there is far less scrutiny than for other travelers. There may be a quiet move on the part of gate agents where they are proactively doing so to avoid the whole question. I've actually seen them pull people out of line to do so.
I cant even imgaine being a kid now or even have minor kids. I would never in todays world, have a minor travelling on their own. To risky.
So I am think about all the kids that are court orded to travel to see their parent. Poor kids if this is what is happening to them.
One thing for sure is that the therapists are going to have a lot of work becuase of the trauma it can and most likely will cause.
Jul 29, 2011, 12:25 pm
#47
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: California. USA
Posts: 1,404
I suspect that if a 13-year-old girl tried to refuse a genital grope, the TSA would bully her into it. They would threaten her, lie to her, tell her her parents would be mad at her, tell her she was going to jail, tell her all sorts of intimidating things until she let them have their way with her. Such threats work with adults all the time, and adolescents are even easier to bully and to deceive than adults are. I can't help wishing, though, for a savvy and educated and confident young woman who's under 18 to tell them no, no, a thousand times no, it's my body and you can't do that to me, and for that incident to make it into the papers.
However there are kids that would say no. I have 4 daugthers , now all adults, they would have said no and call our mother and/or father.I also have 2 sons also adults.
And yes they have been in situations when adults have tried to bully them.
Jul 29, 2011, 4:11 pm
#48
Join Date: Dec 2008
Posts: 1,444
This story makes me think of myself 20+ years ago. I was a traveling teen, frequently flying all over the world, often on my own to visit family abroad. I could navigate airports on my own as well as any other frequent flyer at that age, and actually enjoyed the process of traveling (remember those days?).
I was also, as most teens are, somewhat body conscious. I was very slim at the time, scrawny really, and embarrassed by it to the point that I often wore a pair of shorts or other pants under my jeans to help fill out the space (and also provide extra padding for long times sitting). The 30 something year old me knows how silly this was, but teens are often silly, and this was pretty innocent, I guess. I never told anyone about it before (although BDO-BubbaMom probably knew and kept to herself about it), and actually forgot all about it until I read this.
Can you imagine what would happen to a girl who happened to wear something under their clothes in a US airport today? Imagine WBI or the grope detects "an anomaly" in that area in a teenage girl traveling alone. What would be done next? Private room, strip, visual inspection, required to remove, etc...?? How would this girl's privacy and confidence be affected?
I'm glad I didn't have to deal with the TSA at that age, and feel for all teens today.
I was also, as most teens are, somewhat body conscious. I was very slim at the time, scrawny really, and embarrassed by it to the point that I often wore a pair of shorts or other pants under my jeans to help fill out the space (and also provide extra padding for long times sitting). The 30 something year old me knows how silly this was, but teens are often silly, and this was pretty innocent, I guess. I never told anyone about it before (although BDO-BubbaMom probably knew and kept to herself about it), and actually forgot all about it until I read this.
Can you imagine what would happen to a girl who happened to wear something under their clothes in a US airport today? Imagine WBI or the grope detects "an anomaly" in that area in a teenage girl traveling alone. What would be done next? Private room, strip, visual inspection, required to remove, etc...?? How would this girl's privacy and confidence be affected?
I'm glad I didn't have to deal with the TSA at that age, and feel for all teens today.
Jul 30, 2011, 5:46 pm
#49
Join Date: Apr 2009
Posts: 65
TSA showed poor judgment BUT you know what? As a parent -and as a child who traveled frequently, never unaccompanied but routinely seated separately from my family- I'd be more worried about who my kid is sitting next to on an airplane.
In this instance, I think the adults were just as much at fault for putting the 13 year old in this situation -- not necessarily by flying her unccompanied, but by not escorting her through security themselves.
I'm not a TSApologist *at all* and think this was way disrepectful and over the top; and yet, they're not alone in any damage this caused the child in question.
In this instance, I think the adults were just as much at fault for putting the 13 year old in this situation -- not necessarily by flying her unccompanied, but by not escorting her through security themselves.
I'm not a TSApologist *at all* and think this was way disrepectful and over the top; and yet, they're not alone in any damage this caused the child in question.
Jul 30, 2011, 6:20 pm
#50
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 171
Appleblossom, I don't understand how you can fault the parents when TSA fails to make it clear that genital and breast touching will be part of patdowns. What if the parents had no idea their daughter could have been subjected to a sexual assault patdown? It's clear that once the gravity of the situation hit home, they cared enough about their daughter to drive her home from Florida.
Believe it or not, there are still people in this country who have no idea that anything's changed at airport security since 2009 - and that's intentional on the part of TSA. TSA can't admit to themselves and won't admit to us that they are putting their hands on people's sexual organs.
Believe it or not, there are still people in this country who have no idea that anything's changed at airport security since 2009 - and that's intentional on the part of TSA. TSA can't admit to themselves and won't admit to us that they are putting their hands on people's sexual organs.
Jul 30, 2011, 8:40 pm
#51
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: California. USA
Posts: 1,404
TSA showed poor judgment BUT you know what? As a parent -and as a child who traveled frequently, never unaccompanied but routinely seated separately from my family- I'd be more worried about who my kid is sitting next to on an airplane.
In this instance, I think the adults were just as much at fault for putting the 13 year old in this situation -- not necessarily by flying her unccompanied, but by not escorting her through security themselves.
I'm not a TSApologist *at all* and think this was way disrepectful and over the top; and yet, they're not alone in any damage this caused the child in question.
In this instance, I think the adults were just as much at fault for putting the 13 year old in this situation -- not necessarily by flying her unccompanied, but by not escorting her through security themselves.
I'm not a TSApologist *at all* and think this was way disrepectful and over the top; and yet, they're not alone in any damage this caused the child in question.
Anybody knows?
I got a pass for my son when he was 15 going to Sweden.That was back in 2001.
And I had to beg for it. I had asked for a asssistant 6 months prior to the trip. But at the airport they said they did not have the time for it and no personal for it.
My son did not speak that much english being Swedish and he was a minor.
They finally released a pass cause he was very confused.
That is why I am wondering how it is now!
Jul 31, 2011, 4:17 pm
#52
Join Date: Apr 2009
Posts: 65
Appleblossom, I don't understand how you can fault the parents when TSA fails to make it clear that genital and breast touching will be part of patdowns. What if the parents had no idea their daughter could have been subjected to a sexual assault patdown? It's clear that once the gravity of the situation hit home, they cared enough about their daughter to drive her home from Florida.
Believe it or not, there are still people in this country who have no idea that anything's changed at airport security since 2009 - and that's intentional on the part of TSA. TSA can't admit to themselves and won't admit to us that they are putting their hands on people's sexual organs.
Believe it or not, there are still people in this country who have no idea that anything's changed at airport security since 2009 - and that's intentional on the part of TSA. TSA can't admit to themselves and won't admit to us that they are putting their hands on people's sexual organs.
I see and respect your point; to that end, I can agree that in my initial post I'm perhaps guilty of forgetting that not everyone is a frequent flyer "in the know" ... although ...
unless one is living under a rock, there have been smatterings of somewhat recent news in which TSA is called out, vilified, and more in the media. Most people who will get onto an airplane have access to the internet, a newspaper, a television, or an opinionated coworker/neighbor at a water cooler. And still, as someone who actively avoids most newspapers, internet news, and television I can forgive the inexperienced flyer who mightn't be aware of changes to air travel. Particularly WRT to the TSA.
That aside, as a parent I'm responsible to my child. If there is something I don't know, I ask. If there's a process I'm unsure about, I ask. Sometimes more than once, sometimes more than one person. (Yes! I was *thatkid* in school
.) I'm not going to trust random strangers or corporations to advocate for my child, paid or otherwise. I have to feel comfortable and aware before I'm entrusting my child -toddler, teen, or anywhere in between- to the world.I'm not a helicopter parent. I have too many kids to be successful at that, even if I felt so driven. I have peers who won't let their kids sleep over at friends' homes, friends who restrict the ratings of games and movies their kids access, and relatives who micro-manage their child down to the bowel movement. None of those are me, and yet I'm not just going to blindly pay a few and hand over my child to a process I know nothing about.
I hope that better explains my POV. I feel badly that this poor child was subjected to the inappropriate experience she was; she'll be forever changed. I think the TSA was stupid in how it handled this situation. I also just happen to think that a stronger parental presence could have helped avoid the scene entirely.
Jul 31, 2011, 4:19 pm
#53
Join Date: Apr 2009
Posts: 65
I am not so sure that an adult/parent are allowed passed security anymore to see their kid off.
Anybody knows?
I got a pass for my son when he was 15 going to Sweden.That was back in 2001.
And I had to beg for it. I had asked for a asssistant 6 months prior to the trip. But at the airport they said they did not have the time for it and no personal for it.
My son did not speak that much english being Swedish and he was a minor.
They finally released a pass cause he was very confused.
That is why I am wondering how it is now!
Anybody knows?
I got a pass for my son when he was 15 going to Sweden.That was back in 2001.
And I had to beg for it. I had asked for a asssistant 6 months prior to the trip. But at the airport they said they did not have the time for it and no personal for it.
My son did not speak that much english being Swedish and he was a minor.
They finally released a pass cause he was very confused.
That is why I am wondering how it is now!
2001 would have had more restrictions in place, I imagine, just being the times that it was.
Several trips over this past summer I've seen adults at the gate waiting alongside (or for) their UMs. The one exception was a late scheduled arrival in which security was closed and the gate agent needed to personally escort the UM out of the secured side.
Jul 31, 2011, 4:34 pm
#54
Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,145
That aside, as a parent I'm responsible to my child. If there is something I don't know, I ask. If there's a process I'm unsure about, I ask. Sometimes more than once, sometimes more than one person. (Yes! I was *thatkid* in school .) I'm not going to trust random strangers or corporations to advocate for my child, paid or otherwise. I have to feel comfortable and aware before I'm entrusting my child -toddler, teen, or anywhere in between- to the world.
.) I'm not going to trust random strangers or corporations to advocate for my child, paid or otherwise. I have to feel comfortable and aware before I'm entrusting my child -toddler, teen, or anywhere in between- to the world.I don't watch the news on television (in fact, I watch nothing on TV), I never read the local paper, and don't subscribe to any national magazines. Each day, I look at a couple of internet news sites and carefully choose a few articles I want to read. If it wasn't for my own personal experiences with travel, and the experiences of two family members, I'd be blissfully ignorant of both Flyertalk and the screening procedures at the airport. It's easy for me to see how someone who never travels and could (for example) send a child off to a grandparents' home without realizing just how intrusive the screening process has become.
Jul 31, 2011, 4:35 pm
#55
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 171
I understand your position, but it's been reported ad nauseam that TSA refuses to divulge the specific body parts that will be handled in a patdown. Even if said parent called TSA, visited TSA's website, went to an airport and asked, none of those liars would have told that parent the simple truth: "We intend to put our hands on your daughter's breasts and labia, perhaps clitoris, through her clothing if she's patted down."
Jul 31, 2011, 4:38 pm
#56
Suspended
Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 3,728
What parent, who isn't particularly interested in the news, would think to themselves "Y'know, I should probably ask and make sure that there is no one my child might encounter on this trip that is likely to touch my child's genitals." It is just *completely* bizarre for that topic to even come up as something that should be investigated.
Jul 31, 2011, 4:51 pm
#57
Join Date: Feb 2010
Posts: 733
I understand your position, but it's been reported ad nauseam that TSA refuses to divulge the specific body parts that will be handled in a patdown. Even if said parent called TSA, visited TSA's website, went to an airport and asked, none of those liars would have told that parent the simple truth: "We intend to put our hands on your daughter's breasts and labia, perhaps clitoris, through her clothing if she's patted down."
What TSA is doing to the moral fabric of this culture is deplorable.
Jul 31, 2011, 4:53 pm
#58
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 360
Oh, OK, thirteen. I don't think that's any better.
Jul 31, 2011, 4:58 pm
#59
Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,145
I understand your position, but it's been reported ad nauseam that TSA refuses to divulge the specific body parts that will be handled in a patdown. Even if said parent called TSA, visited TSA's website, went to an airport and asked, none of those liars would have told that parent the simple truth: "We intend to put our hands on your daughter's breasts and labia, perhaps clitoris, through her clothing if she's patted down."