Cody Phillips
Communication & Gender
11/13/08
History of Gender In the Workplace

	It didn't take a lot of asking before I found a person with an interesting story, who was more than willing to tell it. She is now in her mid-sixties, and works as a financial consultant. In her early years, she worked as a Flight Attendant for Western Airlines. During this time, the role of a flight attendant differed greatly from that of today.
	During this time, one could not land a job as a flight attendant by competence alone. Not only were there certain work requirements, but there were also standards on personal appearance. Right on the job requirements, along with the work skills, the acceptable measurements were listed, along with the approval of the general appearance. It was also required that the applicant be single, for reasons of appeal, and to ensure that they are not leaving a house and family with no one to clean or cook meals.
	The main role of a flight attendant was not to hand out pillows and pour champagne. The primary role, plain and simply, was to be the eye candy. Marketing was a tough task, as competition became fierce in the airline industry. As a result, the sex appeal of the employees was a crucial aspect of marketing the airline. Flight attendants were given revealing uniforms to wear, and were encouraged to be flirtatious toward the male passengers.
	This idea of eye candy in the work place, she recalled, was nothing new for women. Even such positions as secretary and clerk, a woman's appearance was included in the job requirements. There were few restrictions on sexual harassment during this time, and they were reminded of this on a daily basis. It seemed to be almost a role of the job to be demeaned by the men in the workplace. This wasn't always a bad thing, however. Many women thrived off this role to excel in the workplace. Women who were willing to use their looks did so very aggressively, to help them along in the workplace.