Stereotyping of Asian women the real problem for Cathay flight attendants
Jingan Young says sexual harassment of Cathay flight attendants stems from the enduring stereotype of the docile and submissive Asian woman
It came as no surprise when "too revealing" female flight attendant uniforms landed Cathay Pacific in yet another dispute with its employees.
Michelle Choi of the airline's Flight Attendants Union said the attendants' "too tight, too short" skirt and blouse have contributed to an increase in the number of cases of sexual harassment. She singled out the worst offenders as being members of the Marco Polo Club, the airline's frequent fliers.
Surprising? Not really.
Despite this being yet another example of oversimplifying the issue of workplace harassment - reducing it in this case to mere "fashion" - we should welcome the public outcry and expressions of sympathy that followed.
The South China Morning Post article about the complaint garnered many positive comments online. Unfortunately, there were also the misogynist, "they had it coming, they're stewardesses" type of remarks. Again, unsurprising.
This echoes a Toronto police constable's infamous comment in 2011 that women could avoid being sexually assaulted if they didn't "dress like sluts". In an age of the glorified overexposure of self, thanks to social media and web forums dedicated to celebrities' state of undress, it is refreshing to see women fight for the dignity of their profession.