Flight Attendants Speak Out Against Skirt-Only Uniforms

① Uncomfortable-looking flight attendant uniforms

Flight attendants always greet passengers with neat uniforms when boarding the plane. The uniform of flight attendants also creates an image of the profession. When you think of flight attendants, you always think of flight attendants wearing neat uniforms. Flight attendants are responsible for the convenience and safety of passengers on board. It is a physically demanding job, as they always have to push heavy carts, serve in-flight meals to passengers, and stand on the plane for long periods.

However, flight attendant uniforms always consist of tight skirts and high heels, which can look uncomfortable. Finding flight attendants wearing pants at the airport and on board is difficult.
Why are flight attendant uniforms made of skirts instead of pants?

② Asiana Airlines allows individual requests for flight attendant pants

Airlines strictly manage the appearance regulations for flight attendants. In the past, flight attendants were restricted in appearance and clothing, such as the number of pins used, earring size, and lipstick color. Since the uniform also follows the airline’s regulations, flight attendants have no choice but to comply.

Of course, domestic airlines also provide pants, uniforms, and skirts. However, wearing skirts is still more common than wearing pants. Asiana Airlines announced in 2013 that it developed pants uniforms in addition to skirts to expand the uniform selection opportunities for female flight attendants. They received individual requests for pants uniforms from flight attendants.

In 2012, the Human Rights Commission recommended that Asiana Airlines allow female flight attendants to choose pants instead of skirts, stating that forcing them to wear skirts was “discrimination.”

Although Asiana Airlines allowed individual requests for pants uniforms, the atmosphere internally did not permit it. According to JTBC News in 2018, not wearing pants and uniforms for flight attendants at Asiana Airlines was due to pressure from superiors.

According to reports, if flight attendants request pants, they receive questions like, “Will you really wear them?” Due to the pressure, flight attendants cannot freely wear pants and uniforms. It was revealed that flight attendants are in a structure where they cannot wear pants even if they want to.

Kwon Su-Jeong, a member of the Seoul Metropolitan Council who worked at Asiana Airlines for 24 years, revealed a conservative culture, saying, “If you even cut your hair short, you are perceived as a flight attendant who has joined the union or is rebellious against the company.”

③ Airlines that have been in the spotlight with uniforms that are faithful to their main job

Other airlines, excluding Asiana Airlines, provide both skirts and pants. Korean Air has freely allowed flight attendants to choose between skirts and pants since 2013. Since there are no special regulations, they can wear them freely, but some flight attendants have expressed that pants are more uncomfortable. They mentioned that the pants material is thin, revealing underwear lines, and too tight, making it uncomfortable to move.

The controversy over domestic airlines’ uniforms continues. The clothing is considered inappropriate for a profession responsible for passenger safety. Aero K, an airline established in 2015 introduced uniforms that are not gender-specific, emphasizing activity and convenience. It attracted attention by unveiling uniforms that can focus on their main job.

Then, what about overseas? We can also see similar cases overseas. Cathay Pacific Airways, a British airline based in Hong Kong, demanded that female flight attendants only wear skirts since its establishment in 1946.

However, in 2014, there was a request to wear pants, but it was not allowed. Dragonair, a subsidiary, eventually introduced pants uniforms as flight attendants continued to request them.

Virgin Atlantic Airways, a British airline, drew attention last year with its groundbreaking policy. Flight attendants, pilots, and ground staff can now choose and wear uniforms regardless of gender. Until now, female flight attendants wore red, while male flight attendants wore darker burgundy uniforms. Now, male flight attendants can also wear skirts or red pants.

Virgin Atlantic also provides badges that allow employees to be addressed by their preferred gender pronouns, such as “he” or “she.” They plan to change the policy to allow passengers to write their preferred gender code during check-in. The airline stated that this is part of a policy to embrace the diversity of its employees and enhance an inclusive brand image.

By. Seo Seong-Min (fv_editor@fastviewkorea.com)