Can someone please remind me what year it is because if I recall, it is 2014 and not 1914!
(SIGH)
In recent news, a bizarre case of sexism occurred to a Canadian pilot from WestJet airlines.
On Wednesday, an airplane was on its scheduled route from Calgary to Victoria, B.C., with female pilot Carey Steacy leading the flight.
Most people are quite aware that female pilots exist, but for one passenger in particular, the news was totally discomforting.
A male passenger by the name of David left a rather rude note on a napkin to Steacy.
The message detailed how women shouldn’t pursue pilot careers, as he believed women are meant to stick to more traditional roles like being a mother. (image)
“The cockpit of an airliner is no place for a woman,” the note began.
He further mentioned how the airline should warn him when “a fair lady is at the helm,” just incase he needs to make changes to his flight.
David then ended the insensitive note with the words “not impressed” followed by his signature on the back.
Steacy shared photos of the scribbled message to her Facebook page, and along with it came her response:
Thank you for the note you discreetly left me on your seat. You made sure to ask the flight attendants before we left if I had enough hours to be the Captain so safety is important to you, too.
I have heard many comments from people throughout my 17-year career as a pilot. Most of them positive. Your note is, without a doubt, the funniest. It was a joke, right? RIGHT?? I thought, not. You were more than welcome to deplane when you heard I was a ‘fair lady’.
You have that right. Funny, we all, us humans, have the same rights in this great free country of ours. Now, back to my most important role, being a mother.
Steacy told CTV News that she and her colleagues were quite astonished by the sexist note.
The pilot also stated that she felt it was necessary to respond because just like he has his opinions, she has hers.
However, Steacy said that she does recognize how uncommon female pilots are today. (image)
“Almost every day people I find are a little bit surprised, and I think it’s just because women aren’t enrolling in flight schools… And I just hope that that mindset can change, like it has in a lot of professions,” she said.
According to the Today show, “Canadian carrier WestJet has 1,111 male pilots and 58 female pilots. Its subsidiary regional airline, WestJet Encore, has 87 male and 10 female pilots.”
In a statement, the airline said that the response was disappointing. However, women working in the industry hope that the incident will help spread light on the contribution women have made throughout aviation history.
My advice to this David character is to book a flight to an isolated island very far away, stay there, and never return to society since you’re “not impressed” by how modern-day women operate. Sorry to break it to you buddy, but female pilots are here to stay.
Images via YouTube