Sunday, April 23, 2017

United Wouldn't Let 2 Girls on a Plane Because of a Leggings Ban - Emma Reyna

Summary/Analysis:

This Sunday, a United Airlines gate agent denied two girls entrance onto one of their planes because the girls were wearing leggings. Shannon Watts, founder of the Moms Demand Action campaign for gun safety, saw what happened and tweeted about it, sparking a huge uproar on Twitter. She said that the two girls who were refused entry were teenagers, and that there was another girl as young as ten who was also wearing leggings but was allowed to enter once she put a dress that she happened to have in her backpack. United Airlines issued a statement saying that the two girls were relatives of United employees, receiving free or reduced rates, and that there is a dress code pass travelers have to follow, the code apparently including a "ban on spandex." United also has rules where they can refuse any passenger's boarding if he or she is "barefoot or not properly clothed," but not stating what "properly" means. I think that while their rule for general passengers makes sense, the rules need to be a lot more specific as to what is or isn't proper. However, my main problem is with their choice to ban spandex for pass travelers, as they do not see it as appropriate attire. Shouldn't you expect people to dress comfortably when they are on a long flight? And the fact that they refused service to two teenagers and would have also done so to a ten year old, who might not even be a pass traveler, is beyond me.

Synthesis:

United's inability to accept leggings as appropriate and proper clothing reminds me of the 1920s, when it was hard for society to accept women dressing in more revealing clothing. To me, this rule against spandex is pretty sexist, as they are denying women service based on what I believe is totally appropriate clothing.

Source: http://time.com/4713370/united-airlines-leggings-ban/

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