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The Great Stewardess Rebellion: How Women Launched a Workplace Revolution at 30,000 Feet
The empowering true story of a group of spirited stewardesses who "stood up to huge corporations and won, creating momentous change for all working women." (Gloria Steinem, co-founder of Ms. magazine)
It was the Golden Age of Travel, and everyone wanted in. As flying boomed in the 1960s, women from across the United States applied for jobs as stewardesses. They were drawn to the promise of glamorous jet-setting, the chance to see the world, and an alternative to traditional occupations like homemaking, nursing, and teaching.
But as the number of "stews" grew, so did their suspicion that the job was not as picture-perfect as the ads would have them believe. "Sky girls" had to adhere to strict weight limits at all times; gain a few extra pounds and they'd be suspended from work. They couldn't marry or have children; their makeup, hair, and teeth had to be just so. Girdles were mandatory while stewardesses were on the clock. And, most important, stewardesses had to resign at 32.
Eventually the stewardesses began to push back and it's thanks to their trailblazing efforts in part that working women have gotten closer to workplace equality today. Nell McShane Wulfhart crafts a rousing narrative of female empowerment, the paradigm-shifting '60s and '70s, the labor movement, and the cadre of gutsy women who fought for their rights--and won.
It was the Golden Age of Travel, and everyone wanted in. As flying boomed in the 1960s, women from across the United States applied for jobs as stewardesses. They were drawn to the promise of glamorous jet-setting, the chance to see the world, and an alternative to traditional occupations like homemaking, nursing, and teaching.
But as the number of "stews" grew, so did their suspicion that the job was not as picture-perfect as the ads would have them believe. "Sky girls" had to adhere to strict weight limits at all times; gain a few extra pounds and they'd be suspended from work. They couldn't marry or have children; their makeup, hair, and teeth had to be just so. Girdles were mandatory while stewardesses were on the clock. And, most important, stewardesses had to resign at 32.
Eventually the stewardesses began to push back and it's thanks to their trailblazing efforts in part that working women have gotten closer to workplace equality today. Nell McShane Wulfhart crafts a rousing narrative of female empowerment, the paradigm-shifting '60s and '70s, the labor movement, and the cadre of gutsy women who fought for their rights--and won.
320 pages, Hardcover
First published April 19, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 231 reviews
February 5, 2022
Though the post of flight attendant was long touted as a glamorous and enviable one, it was also incredibly tough during the Jet Set age. Called stewardesses then, the women had to put up with low pay, sexualized stereotyping, and age and weight restrictions that had nothing to do with their suitability for the job and everything to do with being eye candy.
In this book, the reader is taken through how flight attendants fought for workers' rights, often going to war over things that depressingly should never have existed, such as restrictions stating women had to be unmarried and under the age of 35 to keep working. I liked that the author told this story through the efforts of specific women but made sure to demonstrate how it was a group effort still. It was interesting to contrast this with Fly Girl: A Memoir, as Hood enjoyed many of the rights won by flight attendants of the generation discussed here.
In the first half of the book, Wulfhart goes over how the passage of Title VII changed many of the regulations around flight attendants, though battling sex discrimination cases was still an uphill battle when prosecutors did not find such cases worthy of attention. I was interested to learn that flight attendants were on the forefront of the implementation of this act, setting precedents in sex discrimination cases for generations to come.
In the second half of the book, the author focuses on unions and the organization Stewardesses for Womens' Rights, battling sexist messaging about flight attendants and trying to gain the privileges that their male counterparts, in this role and otherwise, held.. The book ends with the story of how flight attendants broke away from the Transport Worker's Union to form their own union, advancing the tale into the present day.
I found this a really informative read about a subject I knew little about, and appreciated how information was relayed in an easily digestible way. However, I wished that we could have learned more about how women of color fit into 'the Great Stewardess Rebellion,' which was touched upon but not really elaborated.
Disclaimer: I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley. This is my honest and voluntary review.
In this book, the reader is taken through how flight attendants fought for workers' rights, often going to war over things that depressingly should never have existed, such as restrictions stating women had to be unmarried and under the age of 35 to keep working. I liked that the author told this story through the efforts of specific women but made sure to demonstrate how it was a group effort still. It was interesting to contrast this with Fly Girl: A Memoir, as Hood enjoyed many of the rights won by flight attendants of the generation discussed here.
In the first half of the book, Wulfhart goes over how the passage of Title VII changed many of the regulations around flight attendants, though battling sex discrimination cases was still an uphill battle when prosecutors did not find such cases worthy of attention. I was interested to learn that flight attendants were on the forefront of the implementation of this act, setting precedents in sex discrimination cases for generations to come.
In the second half of the book, the author focuses on unions and the organization Stewardesses for Womens' Rights, battling sexist messaging about flight attendants and trying to gain the privileges that their male counterparts, in this role and otherwise, held.. The book ends with the story of how flight attendants broke away from the Transport Worker's Union to form their own union, advancing the tale into the present day.
I found this a really informative read about a subject I knew little about, and appreciated how information was relayed in an easily digestible way. However, I wished that we could have learned more about how women of color fit into 'the Great Stewardess Rebellion,' which was touched upon but not really elaborated.
Disclaimer: I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley. This is my honest and voluntary review.
February 15, 2022
Surprising and disturbing, this well-researched history of the flight attendant profession starts out in the 1950's and early 1960's--the stewardesses were young women selected for their appearance and cheerful personalities. Their training facility, nicknamed the "charm farm," covered hair, makeup and the social graces. They were weighed weekly (and fired if they were over the limit). They could not marry, were dismissed from the job at age 32, and were subject to random inspections by supervisors to ensure that each was wearing a bra, girdle, and slip at all times. Their union, the TWU, was happy to collect their dues, but marginalized the stewardesses and dismissed their concerns. They endured harassment from many of the passengers and pilots, and the airlines' advertisements, replete with sexual innuendos, just made things worse. Recommended for anyone interested in history, particularly women's history. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.
June 23, 2023
This enjoyable nonfiction book is a sympathetic, well-written account of the airline "stewardesses" struggle to gain workplace rights (the same treatment as their men colleagues) during the 1960s. The first flight I ever took was on a Braniff airliner in 1973, so I don't remember much of the stuff covered, but I do recall seeing the airlines' sexist ads in magazines and on TV. The rules were stupid and arbitrary (the weight requirements, for instance), but the airlines had an economic incentive to keep the payroll low for their flight attendants who still unionized. I like reading stories about underdogs who succeed in their struggles and win the fight.
March 19, 2022
As a flight attendant myself, this book was deeply personal for me, and it really brought to my attention how hard the stews that came before me worked to give me all the benefits and workers’ rights I have today. While I did know about a lot of the darkest parts of the industry already, I couldn’t believe just how scrutinized these women were and the things they were forced to endure from the company and passengers alike. The book itself is incredibly well researched and written in a really straightforward way, without sacrificing the truly human part of the story. If you have an interest in feminist history or labor movements, this is a book you’ll definitely want to read, and I’m forever grateful to the incredible women in this book for allowing me to have the career I do today!
June 11, 2022
Cringe! Was the world always that Neanderthal? I listened to a good portion of this, and I found myself gripping the steering wheel every time it seemed the narrator was going to list a number of horrific ad campaigns, airline policies, or acts of harassment. And sure enough, POW! I never got inured to it. Wow, just wow. Sure, that was a long time ago, but was it really? Mid-60s, early 70s, into the 80s?
What a fine job Wulfhart does in sharing detailed anecdotes from a range of flight attendants. She focuses on two who become leaders within the labor movement, and gives us plenty of reason to admire them. Never did I feel I had too much information. There’s a tendency toward oversharing in these types of books, but the author keeps it flowing. I learned a lot about labor and maybe even more about women’s history. Made me want to go out and read something by or about Gloria Steinem.
A great look at an overlooked chapter of American history!
What a fine job Wulfhart does in sharing detailed anecdotes from a range of flight attendants. She focuses on two who become leaders within the labor movement, and gives us plenty of reason to admire them. Never did I feel I had too much information. There’s a tendency toward oversharing in these types of books, but the author keeps it flowing. I learned a lot about labor and maybe even more about women’s history. Made me want to go out and read something by or about Gloria Steinem.
A great look at an overlooked chapter of American history!
February 8, 2022
More reviews (and no fluff) on the blog http://surrealtalvi.wordpress.com/
This is a very well researched and well written story about gender inequality and the fight for equal rights in the 1960s and 1970s. The author uses 4-5 women's stories to give a picture of the struggles at the time and how sexist and elitist the airline industry especially operated. The author doesn't just cover women but also focuses on racism and even the problems men encountered trying to be flight attendants. What makes the book so successful is the tone and pace: the book never bogs down and the author does an excellent job of making the facts entertaining and informative.The book is chronological and focuses on the women who made the changes in the airline industry in the 1960s and 1970s. Nearly all started out as stewardesses but some would move on to union jobs and try to affect change there. At its heart, the story is about the huge gender inequality issues: from pay differences to gender-specific job requirements. It is inconceivable today that a flight attendant would have to quit or be fired if she: was over 30, was over 125 lbs, got married, had a child, did not wear a girdle or false eyelashes, or did not style her her in a certain way. All for 3/4 less pay than a male counterpart who had no restrictions at all.
Although the women were to be admired, the author had a great way of making each one extremely likable (despite the unlikelihood of them being very unlikeable in real life). The women had very strong personalities, were driven, and even had differing ideals at some points (e.g., whether to use the power of existing unions or to create a new one for flight attendants only). I found every single woman's story engrossing and appreciated that we got more than just their job info but also stories about their personal life.
A good writer can really elevate the subject and Wulfhart does that here. This is a highly entertaining read that brings great insight into how bad things were at the airline industry (and for women) at the time. The women were candid about their mistakes and about their successes and the era of the 1960s and 1970s is well realized throughout. I honestly could not come up with any criticisms of the presentation, research, or subject matter. Especially for those who recently watched the TV series Mrs. America, you will recognize a lot of the names in here when the book reaches the 1970s.
In all, highly recommended. And a great testament to the women who managed a lasting change against so much resistance. Reviewed from an advance reader copy provided by the publisher.
June 16, 2022
My mother kept a notebook filled with school photos and memorabilia. On the back of each page we filled out various details about my life including what I wanted to be when I grew up -- every year it was the same: a stewardess. As a child of the 1960s and 1970s there weren't many careers thought to be appropriate for women and girls. But, I wouldn't have cared. I wanted to fly and travel. It seemed so glamorous. After having read this brilliantly researched book I am relieved that life took me in other directions. This feminist would have struggled!
Low pay, sexy uniforms, weigh restrictions, and ridiculously sexualized treatment, were only some of the restrictions placed upon these women. Their careers were guaranteed to end at age 35 or upon marriage, whichever came first. They were forced to share rooms everywhere they went, and often with women on drastically different working schedules. Girdles were required, and there was no hesitancy to feel the buttocks to determine if it was worn! These women were treated as nothing more than eye candy.
Wulfhart introduces the reader to the women who fought for working rights, and changed the way the profession was viewed. She focuses on a few individual women, but also shows how the entire population was benefited from their efforts.
I was fascinated throughout, and found some of these women truly heroic. It was an informative, smartly written, and easily understood story of history made. Excellent.
Thank you to the publisher for the last #gifted finished copy. The review is my honest opinion.
Low pay, sexy uniforms, weigh restrictions, and ridiculously sexualized treatment, were only some of the restrictions placed upon these women. Their careers were guaranteed to end at age 35 or upon marriage, whichever came first. They were forced to share rooms everywhere they went, and often with women on drastically different working schedules. Girdles were required, and there was no hesitancy to feel the buttocks to determine if it was worn! These women were treated as nothing more than eye candy.
Wulfhart introduces the reader to the women who fought for working rights, and changed the way the profession was viewed. She focuses on a few individual women, but also shows how the entire population was benefited from their efforts.
I was fascinated throughout, and found some of these women truly heroic. It was an informative, smartly written, and easily understood story of history made. Excellent.
Thank you to the publisher for the last #gifted finished copy. The review is my honest opinion.
January 14, 2022
I enjoyed reading and learning about the rebellion. I loved the different point of views and really learning about what happened during that time. I loved learning about Patti . Tommie and the many others that helped give them rights. I enjoyed seeing the ads about flying and learning about flight/charm school. Loved learning this book .
March 6, 2024
another inspiration. i didn’t realize how much of our rights today as women come from the flight attendants and their struggle. it truly is a good example that it’s the working class that moves history, and that starts with the shop floor and the rank and file. this was such a good reminder of why im apart of the rank and file and not a staffer or academic or labor bureaucrat. it also was so impressive to me that these women kept their rank and file jobs while taking up union positions. though not a flight attendant this made me feel really proud to be a woman in the labor movement and i hope to do half as much as these women did
April 18, 2022
I remember when I went to flight attendant training in 2015, I had to dye my hair all one color and buy makeup because I didn’t even own the lipstick we were required to wear. I had friends and family who thought this was insane and sexist, but I didn’t really mind. I knew I wanted to be a flight attendant, so I attended “image” class to ensure I was properly groomed and wore my uniform as expected (though it’s kind of a joke in the industry that once you leave the training center- often called the “Charm Farm” by more senior flight attendants- that imagine standards are no longer necessarily adhered to). That being said, the industry has obviously changed drastically and I’m very grateful for the flight attendants before me who fought for all this leniency. I personally still take pride in how I present myself on the job and I want to represent my company well, but since I’m now married, on the verge of “aging out” according to the old standards, and can’t imagine feeling comfortable being referred to as a “C.R. honeybun,” I’m so happy I’m not forced to say goodbye to my incredible career.
This book is very interesting and educational while also ensuring an entertainment quality that is necessary when reading historical accounts. There’s a focus on the union which is good knowledge to obtain about the industry in general and, while some of the employee treatment & expectations may be somewhat shocking to those outside the airlines, it’s a quick read and I’m glad I was able to review it. I’d highly recommend it to anyone interested in the aviation industry and any current or former flight attendants as well as feminists and general history buffs. (Also all the photos were SO fun to see.)
This book is very interesting and educational while also ensuring an entertainment quality that is necessary when reading historical accounts. There’s a focus on the union which is good knowledge to obtain about the industry in general and, while some of the employee treatment & expectations may be somewhat shocking to those outside the airlines, it’s a quick read and I’m glad I was able to review it. I’d highly recommend it to anyone interested in the aviation industry and any current or former flight attendants as well as feminists and general history buffs. (Also all the photos were SO fun to see.)
April 30, 2022
It took me sometimes (more than a month) to write this review. I don’t even know how to write my feelings about it now. I have worked for big corporations, and this was a very relatable story for me.
Being a stewardess is a dream job for so many people, everything is glamorous from the outside, and they travel the world and enjoy their life.
This wasn’t the case in the 1960s when flying thrived and women across the nation were applying to become a stewardess.
This book is a true story of a group of these brave stewardesses who stood up to big corporations for their strict rule, as they had to always maintain a certain weight, they were not able to marry or have children and they all had to follow the rules regarding their hair and makeup. On top of all these, they could only work as a stewardess till the age of 32.
The first half focuses on regulations (Title VII) that changed everything and started discrimination. And then later in the book, we read about unions and organizations that started to fight for women's rights and ask for the same freedom and opportunities that their male counterparts had.
This book is beautifully written, it is from different points of view and is very informative. But I have to say this five-star story was rather disturbing for me. because I have experienced this situation firsthand. I wish I could see more of this book on Bookstagram and Goodreads.
Being a stewardess is a dream job for so many people, everything is glamorous from the outside, and they travel the world and enjoy their life.
This wasn’t the case in the 1960s when flying thrived and women across the nation were applying to become a stewardess.
This book is a true story of a group of these brave stewardesses who stood up to big corporations for their strict rule, as they had to always maintain a certain weight, they were not able to marry or have children and they all had to follow the rules regarding their hair and makeup. On top of all these, they could only work as a stewardess till the age of 32.
The first half focuses on regulations (Title VII) that changed everything and started discrimination. And then later in the book, we read about unions and organizations that started to fight for women's rights and ask for the same freedom and opportunities that their male counterparts had.
This book is beautifully written, it is from different points of view and is very informative. But I have to say this five-star story was rather disturbing for me. because I have experienced this situation firsthand. I wish I could see more of this book on Bookstagram and Goodreads.
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January 27, 2022This ARC was provided to me via Kindle, Doubleday Books and by #NetGalley. Opinions expressed are completely my own.
Fascinating tale of the women who were the trailblazers. The ones who set the stage for the future. The rebels. The ones who stood up for their rights and won.
Fascinating tale of the women who were the trailblazers. The ones who set the stage for the future. The rebels. The ones who stood up for their rights and won.
May 30, 2022
Much more interesting than I had expected. Growing up in the 60’s and 70’s with an airline mechanic father who went out on strike when I was 5 I was very acquainted with union-company battles at Northwest.
I also got to fly on passes when 1st class was very glamorous, to Hawaii when I was 10 in 1968 and to both coasts and Europe in junior and high school. It was a shock when I started working and flew in Coach for the first time, but it was never a shock to me that the stewardess requirements were ridiculous.
My husbands aunt was one of the very first stewardesses and being a registered nurse was a requirement- how did this ever become so skewed to sex and not safety?
Great story telling that brought to light the battles for equality first won by the “fly girls”.
I also got to fly on passes when 1st class was very glamorous, to Hawaii when I was 10 in 1968 and to both coasts and Europe in junior and high school. It was a shock when I started working and flew in Coach for the first time, but it was never a shock to me that the stewardess requirements were ridiculous.
My husbands aunt was one of the very first stewardesses and being a registered nurse was a requirement- how did this ever become so skewed to sex and not safety?
Great story telling that brought to light the battles for equality first won by the “fly girls”.
December 7, 2022
Although sometimes this book reads more like a textbook, it is a fascinating recounting of what a few amazing women did to change the role of flight attendants. Their bravery, tenacity and intelligence are on full display; as are the unbelievable requirements the male-dominated airline executives imposed on them (from tear-away uniforms to having to kiss passengers as they deplaned)! It's a large book but it is a lesson in fortitude and justice.
August 25, 2023
Could have been half as long
January 25, 2023
if you are a gen z trying to unionize your work place, stop reading whatever the fuck communist lit some guy from seattle has given you and read this book.
this IS the book on how to take control of your workplace by force.
I had no clue the amount of fuck shit flight attendants went through in order to reach work place equality.
1. no pregnancy!!!!11!!!
2. no marriage :((((((
3. no fatties lol teehee
4. also no one who isn't white and beautiful im sorry those are jsut the corporate needs
what amazes me further is the overall-ness of these rules across the airline industry. there were so many stories of flight attendants who got dumped from one airline for some stupid reason or the other and then just had to jump to the next one. and that was the way the industry was. you could be fired at a moments notice - after being forced to move, pay for your uniform, hair cut, and personality wired to seem fuckable to old dudes on business trips.
hearing what airplanes used to do for passengers as well makes me realizes that I have no idea how hard it must have been carrying full dinners to 100 passengers all remembering their names and not spilling anything while the whole plane zooms through the air. I will never complain about my lukewarm sprite again.
and while i do wish the flight attendants could have stayed in their original union, took it by storm, and became the main power behind transportation workers. I fully accept that that was never going to happen as long as men continued to see them as décor and not co workers.
you never see an airplane mechanic taking SPEED in order to stay skinny enough to keep their job.
also the fact a lot of them were LGBT makes a lot of sense in retrospect.
"Strike, strike, strike, strike. Say it, it feels good."
fucking cold as ice.
this IS the book on how to take control of your workplace by force.
I had no clue the amount of fuck shit flight attendants went through in order to reach work place equality.
1. no pregnancy!!!!11!!!
2. no marriage :((((((
3. no fatties lol teehee
4. also no one who isn't white and beautiful im sorry those are jsut the corporate needs
what amazes me further is the overall-ness of these rules across the airline industry. there were so many stories of flight attendants who got dumped from one airline for some stupid reason or the other and then just had to jump to the next one. and that was the way the industry was. you could be fired at a moments notice - after being forced to move, pay for your uniform, hair cut, and personality wired to seem fuckable to old dudes on business trips.
hearing what airplanes used to do for passengers as well makes me realizes that I have no idea how hard it must have been carrying full dinners to 100 passengers all remembering their names and not spilling anything while the whole plane zooms through the air. I will never complain about my lukewarm sprite again.
and while i do wish the flight attendants could have stayed in their original union, took it by storm, and became the main power behind transportation workers. I fully accept that that was never going to happen as long as men continued to see them as décor and not co workers.
you never see an airplane mechanic taking SPEED in order to stay skinny enough to keep their job.
also the fact a lot of them were LGBT makes a lot of sense in retrospect.
"Strike, strike, strike, strike. Say it, it feels good."
fucking cold as ice.
April 5, 2023
Women <3
This book got a little repetitive in the middle, but overall this was a great dive into the horrendous sexism flight attendants faced for decades and their internal organizing to fight for their rights in the workplace! Big recommend from me
This book got a little repetitive in the middle, but overall this was a great dive into the horrendous sexism flight attendants faced for decades and their internal organizing to fight for their rights in the workplace! Big recommend from me
March 13, 2024
Very informative on how the flight attendant union evolved, and changed things for most women workers in the US. It’s so light and fast paced, despite cramming a lot of info into in.
May 27, 2022
4.5 rounded up.
Fascinating and inspiring story of these women who had to not only fight against the companies they worked for but also push back against their own union representing them for not taking them and their concerns/wishes seriously. Book may have gotten slightly repetitive at times and also a lot to take in terms of info but such a interesting story about these women who were apart of a movement that not only helped workers in a vacuum but also were instrumental in changing the culture on what women could be, that I look forward to reading it again.
Fascinating and inspiring story of these women who had to not only fight against the companies they worked for but also push back against their own union representing them for not taking them and their concerns/wishes seriously. Book may have gotten slightly repetitive at times and also a lot to take in terms of info but such a interesting story about these women who were apart of a movement that not only helped workers in a vacuum but also were instrumental in changing the culture on what women could be, that I look forward to reading it again.
June 11, 2022
In the era of Amazon and Starbucks workers unionizing, I could see the stories in this book being made into something for the screen. A mashup of The Flight Attendant, Norma Rae, and Mad Men, with some courtroom dramas too. Dolly Parton theme song, like from 9 to 5.
Jaw-dropping to read what these women workers were expected to put up with.
--Harassment from passengers, encouraged by the advertising campaigns the women's own employers paid for. If nothing else, get the book to see those ads. "Come fly me," etc.
--Baseless weight restrictions--the airline would gladly help you get addicted to speed to meet the weight limit, and, especially as stewardesses started organizing, an airline's weight limit became a handy tool of intimidation. Any employee could make a stewardess get on a scale at any time. Power play, public humiliation, point the figure at an individual for her failure to fit in a flawed system.
--Simply turning 32 years old was a fireable offense.
--Girdle checks.
Every institution that claimed to look out for these women failed. Management, obviously. Regulators at the EEOC. The Transportation Workers' Union, which took the women's dues but prioritized male workers' needs during contract negotiations.
As always, I cringe about the lawyers who argued on behalf of the airlines.
The author points out that women of color were not part of the story. A few Black women are mentioned here, mostly for how terribly they were treated by their white stewardess co-workers. A few of the whoppingly offensive advertisements imply how uncomfortable this job must have been for Asian-American women, doubly stereotyped as eager to cater to white men. There is no sign that the women centered in this book thought about, for example, Hispanic/Latina women labor leaders in the agricultural workers' movements that were happening in California at around the same time.
So this is a story of a particular kind of white feminism: white working-class women in the US finding their voices. I liked the candor of the women union leaders describing the rookie mistakes they made when they were starting out. And it's interesting how the very traits management prized in stewardesses helped the stewardesses in their own lawsuits and PR campaigns against management. Be sweet and sparkly and perfectly made up when you're testifying in a hearing, or telling the public about the risks of radioactive materials being transported on passenger airplanes (!!).
This is a 3.5 (toward the end I skimmed a lot, and I had hoped a few paragraphs might discuss what has happened to flight attendants during the pandemic, but maybe that's for another book), rounded up b/c I bought a copy for my mother.
Jaw-dropping to read what these women workers were expected to put up with.
--Harassment from passengers, encouraged by the advertising campaigns the women's own employers paid for. If nothing else, get the book to see those ads. "Come fly me," etc.
--Baseless weight restrictions--the airline would gladly help you get addicted to speed to meet the weight limit, and, especially as stewardesses started organizing, an airline's weight limit became a handy tool of intimidation. Any employee could make a stewardess get on a scale at any time. Power play, public humiliation, point the figure at an individual for her failure to fit in a flawed system.
--Simply turning 32 years old was a fireable offense.
--Girdle checks.
Every institution that claimed to look out for these women failed. Management, obviously. Regulators at the EEOC. The Transportation Workers' Union, which took the women's dues but prioritized male workers' needs during contract negotiations.
As always, I cringe about the lawyers who argued on behalf of the airlines.
The author points out that women of color were not part of the story. A few Black women are mentioned here, mostly for how terribly they were treated by their white stewardess co-workers. A few of the whoppingly offensive advertisements imply how uncomfortable this job must have been for Asian-American women, doubly stereotyped as eager to cater to white men. There is no sign that the women centered in this book thought about, for example, Hispanic/Latina women labor leaders in the agricultural workers' movements that were happening in California at around the same time.
So this is a story of a particular kind of white feminism: white working-class women in the US finding their voices. I liked the candor of the women union leaders describing the rookie mistakes they made when they were starting out. And it's interesting how the very traits management prized in stewardesses helped the stewardesses in their own lawsuits and PR campaigns against management. Be sweet and sparkly and perfectly made up when you're testifying in a hearing, or telling the public about the risks of radioactive materials being transported on passenger airplanes (!!).
This is a 3.5 (toward the end I skimmed a lot, and I had hoped a few paragraphs might discuss what has happened to flight attendants during the pandemic, but maybe that's for another book), rounded up b/c I bought a copy for my mother.
December 14, 2023
Listen, it's not like shit is great for women now, but GOD ALMIGHTY I am glad I was not part of my mother's generation.
Reading this book, I was honestly kind of amazed and baffled that any woman would subject herself to the torrent of sexist bullshit just to be a stewardess, especially since to me the idea of that job is completely petrifying. But I understand for normal people, it might have seemed like a fun and glamorous job, particularly in an era where women didn't have endless career options open to them. And obviously I knew shit was hella misogynist back then but reading about some of the "job requirements" and rules and treatment the women endures was still shocking on just a human decency level. The way the airlines all but called them air hookers and used the fantasy of what male passengers would want from attractive young women as an advertising campaign was just...ugh.
I liked learning about the unionizing process and the steps the women took to get basic rights and humane treatment, and how hard they fought even when it often felt like one step forward, two steps back. However, the portions that followed women through the training processes and on the job were definitely more engaging, as the other parts could get a bit tedious and repetitive. Also, I was reading this on Kindle and more than half the book was notes and index and such, which seemed a little odd.
Nothing mind-blowing, but informative and a good reminder not to vote GOP because when they talk about "the good old days" THIS is the kind of shit they mean.
Reading this book, I was honestly kind of amazed and baffled that any woman would subject herself to the torrent of sexist bullshit just to be a stewardess, especially since to me the idea of that job is completely petrifying. But I understand for normal people, it might have seemed like a fun and glamorous job, particularly in an era where women didn't have endless career options open to them. And obviously I knew shit was hella misogynist back then but reading about some of the "job requirements" and rules and treatment the women endures was still shocking on just a human decency level. The way the airlines all but called them air hookers and used the fantasy of what male passengers would want from attractive young women as an advertising campaign was just...ugh.
I liked learning about the unionizing process and the steps the women took to get basic rights and humane treatment, and how hard they fought even when it often felt like one step forward, two steps back. However, the portions that followed women through the training processes and on the job were definitely more engaging, as the other parts could get a bit tedious and repetitive. Also, I was reading this on Kindle and more than half the book was notes and index and such, which seemed a little odd.
Nothing mind-blowing, but informative and a good reminder not to vote GOP because when they talk about "the good old days" THIS is the kind of shit they mean.
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November 17, 2022I liked it. The book shows both the power and importance of unions while also showing some of the problems--problems found in many large bureaucracies. So no knock on unions.
I enjoyed the focus on a few specific individuals’ stories. However, a lot of other interesting people’s stories were just slightly covered, and I really wanted to know more about them, Dusty Roads, for example.
Within each chapter, the timeline seemed to jump around so much that I had a difficult time figuring out whether this law had already passed and why that law hadn’t been enforced and wondered how old several stewardesses were and why they hadn’t been fired because airlines had age restrictions. Also, at some point, it felt like Sonia Pressman must have been at the EEOC for a decade, but in a later sentence about a job change it was said she’d not been out of law school long. There was also a math problem related to union or committee representation that stayed in my head for more than a hundred pages and jolted me out of the story: 7 was said to be less than 10% of 55. No, 5.5 is 10% of 55, making 7 more than 10%.
Maybe it sounds like I’m being picky. However, I liked the story a lot and wanted it to be a great book, a 5-star book if I still gave stars. The little confusions and editing issues and a bit of rambling made it instead “good.” I would still recommend it but would not also say, “This was fantastic! It changed my life!”
I enjoyed the focus on a few specific individuals’ stories. However, a lot of other interesting people’s stories were just slightly covered, and I really wanted to know more about them, Dusty Roads, for example.
Within each chapter, the timeline seemed to jump around so much that I had a difficult time figuring out whether this law had already passed and why that law hadn’t been enforced and wondered how old several stewardesses were and why they hadn’t been fired because airlines had age restrictions. Also, at some point, it felt like Sonia Pressman must have been at the EEOC for a decade, but in a later sentence about a job change it was said she’d not been out of law school long. There was also a math problem related to union or committee representation that stayed in my head for more than a hundred pages and jolted me out of the story: 7 was said to be less than 10% of 55. No, 5.5 is 10% of 55, making 7 more than 10%.
Maybe it sounds like I’m being picky. However, I liked the story a lot and wanted it to be a great book, a 5-star book if I still gave stars. The little confusions and editing issues and a bit of rambling made it instead “good.” I would still recommend it but would not also say, “This was fantastic! It changed my life!”
October 15, 2022
This is essentially a book about organized labor and unions, but if that sounds boring, it’s not. In the olden times, flight attendants were called stewardesses and they were almost always women. There was an age limit (no one older than 32), a weight limit (scales at the office!), makeup and dress requirements, and once they were married, they were fired (and pregnant, although some hid marriage and multiple pregnancies successfully). They were forced to wear skimpy, Playboy bunny type clothing. Passengers - mostly male back then - groped them. One airline FORCED the stewardess to give each departing passenger a KISS. The dictionary definition of “fucked up” is a picture of that (there is an actual picture in the book of this happening). The cockpit - all male - were assholes (not all of them; when the president of American Airlines was in one cockpit complaining about the broads in teh back, one of the pilots said that one of those broads was his wife, and to get the hell out of the cockpit, so there were male allies, but few). Stewardesses - and eventually stewards (many of them gay) fought an uphill battle but eventually won many rights that we would take for granted in this “enlightened” age (a little tongue-in-cheekism there). Once again a book that proves that the so-called “good old days” were not so good.
December 22, 2022
I knew that flight attendants were a big force in labor, but I hadn't realized how crucial they were to the entire development of sex discrimination enforcement. Reading about what these women accomplished year after year against the most misogynistic of unions and companies, and often apathetic workforces, was so powerful.
It shuts off a little fast after AFA was founded, and I wish there was more about how they made a union with no big labor backing so successful, how they mobilized for huge changes and earned their power, other than a handful of examples. I especially wish there was something about CHAOS, even if it wast just in the epilogue.
Overall, 100% recommend reading to anyone in labor and who cares about women's rights and equality.
It shuts off a little fast after AFA was founded, and I wish there was more about how they made a union with no big labor backing so successful, how they mobilized for huge changes and earned their power, other than a handful of examples. I especially wish there was something about CHAOS, even if it wast just in the epilogue.
Overall, 100% recommend reading to anyone in labor and who cares about women's rights and equality.
March 4, 2024
This is such an interesting book. It was part of a display of books about labour issues (very timely as our city workers, including library staff, are fighting for a new contract).
I admit that l've never given much thought to stewardesses/ flight attendants before reading this book. What an eye opener! The abuse at the hands of management and airlines was disgusting. Everything from feeling a woman's bottom to make sure that she was wearing a girdle ( one of many rules) to losing their job once they turned 32 years of age. Men in the position didn't have such a rule. What the women went through to get into a union and eventually form their own is a very moving story that should spread. It shows what can be done when people organize to save their dignity and their jobs.
A fascinating read!
I admit that l've never given much thought to stewardesses/ flight attendants before reading this book. What an eye opener! The abuse at the hands of management and airlines was disgusting. Everything from feeling a woman's bottom to make sure that she was wearing a girdle ( one of many rules) to losing their job once they turned 32 years of age. Men in the position didn't have such a rule. What the women went through to get into a union and eventually form their own is a very moving story that should spread. It shows what can be done when people organize to save their dignity and their jobs.
A fascinating read!
August 12, 2024
I learned a lot from this book. Despite coming of age in the 1960s (no pants for girls at school!) and starting work in a law firm in 1991 (skirt suits only in the office and no pants for female lawyers in the courtrooms) I was still astounded at the blatantly sexist and misogynist policies of airlines - being young, female, single, attractive, and under a certain weight were all considered "bona fide occupational qualifications" for a stewardess! They were subject to public weigh ins on demand by any supervisor, as well as manual girdle and bra checks - mostly, of course, done by males.
The women who fought for their right to be represented by their unions was long and very painful, and inspiring.
My only criticism was it could have been edited quite a bit without losing any substance. Highly recommend nonetheless.
The women who fought for their right to be represented by their unions was long and very painful, and inspiring.
My only criticism was it could have been edited quite a bit without losing any substance. Highly recommend nonetheless.
October 20, 2023
I initially picked up this book because I have a family member who was a flight attendant during the 70s-80s-90s-early aughts. It was interesting to read about the history for an occupation that I associated with fun times and new places. I don't normally go for non-fiction, because it is usually told in a dry way, but this book follows 3 main women that were integral in this movement. I highly recommend this to anyone and everyone!
November 27, 2025
In the sixties, stewardesses had strict criteria to follow, dealing with appearance (false eyelashes and girdle checks), weight limits, age limits (retire at 32), enticing clothing (go go boots and short skirts) and marital status (single only). Being part of a male dominated union, they were subject to harassment and poor benefits. The ads for airlines emphasized the comeliness of the stewardesses, rather than public safety. They lagged behind the fight for women’s rights, which was happening at that time. This is the story of their efforts to be recognized and of the wrongs to be corrected.
April 22, 2023
An engaging, often infuriating, and thoroughly fascinating account of the battle for respect, recognition and rights female flight attendants fought through the decades, and their contributions to the feminist movement. It’s an amazing story.
October 22, 2024
Listened to this book. I thought it was so interesting and educational. I don’t think I would have enjoyed it as much if I would have tried to read it but really enjoyed the audio book. I learned about things I never knew. A really good book.
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