Should BA introduce unisex uniform options for both gentlemen & lady staff?
 

One of the great things about the UK is that our inter-sex equalities are so advanced that subject to some basic modesty requirements men and women can wear whatever they want. I have been reading about my old school allowing boys to wear skirts for example.

So do you think that BA should introduce unisex uniform options for both gentlemen and lady staff? As far as I can tell this would mean introducing a hat, a skirt and a scarf option for gentlemen and a classic neck tie option as well as a scarf/lady-flight-crew-neckwear for ladies.

Such an initiative would be bold and courageous on the gentlemens' side, and although it might not be widely adopted it would be a genuine first-mover opportunity for BA within the industry and make a bold statement of the UK's libertarian values.

What do you think?

:)

If it was to introduce a gender neutral uniform, then a single uniform that all would wear would make sense

It's not April 1st and it's not a full moon so I too am wondering what provoked this post :)

That aside, I am not really sure that what you're proposing would qualify as being described as unisex. If BA's uniform policy was to allow male staff to wear skirts (for example) then it's perhaps more accurately described as gender neutral. I believe that female staff can already wear trousers (or pants, as my US colleagues would say). However, whether they are truly unisex as in the same item of clothing is designed for and issued to both male and female staff is probably a question better suited (!) for the Ask the Staffer thread.

Does Lidl have a BOGOF on Absinthe today?

I always thought that the first rule of Fight Club was ...

In the OP's defense it does at least break up the monotony of the forum although I notice that it's now been banished to another place.

I agree with this. In the current climate any mention of gentlemen and ladies is only going to serve to antagonize and - dare I say it - offend some people for reasons that I still can't quite get my head around. This is probably a topic that BA ought to leave well alone.

I do believe we were on a flight with a transgender BA flight attendant. FA did not seem totally female (due to voice and appearance/size) but wearing the female uniform. She was wearing nice make up and very appropriate. I was glad to see her. Gender neutral uniforms ok by me.

All I can say is that the UK is not so advanced. The UK requires you MUST ( as in cannot complete a form) give a title such as Mr, Mrs, Miss, Ms, Dr., Professor etc when filling out any form. You cannot complete the form without given a designation. This is in no way gender neutral! Drives me crazy here.

So it doesn't matter what clothing is allowed, you are still required to give your designation and if you do not hold a neutral designation, then give a gender based one.

Couldn't agree more. I was horrified during the 'Very British Airline' documentary the obsession with female staff having immaculate lippy etc and how people were punished for not meeting some virtually impossible standard that didn't apply to men.

We saw how one very talented trainee was packed off not for failing any of the safety critical and technical aspects of the job or who lacked customer service skills but because she didn't reapply her lipstick often enough or had a ladder in her tights.

And the example of boys being allowed to wear skirts given by the OP is an illustration that the UK is not so advanced. The reason why many boys are wearing skirts is because their school dress codes don't allow shorts. Only trousers or skirts. In this heat, wearing skirts seems preferable.

There are other places where boys/men have to resort to wearing skirts.