De-gendering the Occupation: Exploring Gender-based Career Challenges Experienced by Female Flight Attendants

Yıl 2024, Cilt: 11 Sayı: 2, 652 - 667, 31.10.2024

Özge Yanıkoğlu

https://doi.org/10.17336/igusbd.1231093

Öz

Considering that flight attendant is one of the most gender-stereotyped jobs, this study aims to explore gender-based challenges experienced by female flight attendants throughout their careers. In order to reach the research objectives, an open-ended questionnaire is conducted to 90 flight attendants working in 4 airlines in Turkey. The findings of the study reveal that female flight attendants are experiencing several gender-based challenges, such as being subjected to strict make-up requirements, facing society's negative prejudice, confronting sexual harassment from passengers and colleagues, having trouble establishing authority, and dealing with difficulties associated with a woman-dominated workplace. The study especially reveals the psychological challenges female flight attendants face in the workplace and in their daily lives. The findings and the associated recommendations provided to society and the airline company management aim to create a psychologically and physiologically healthier working environment for female flight attendants and support their career advancement.

Anahtar Kelimeler

Gender, Aesthetic Labour, Sexual Harassment, Female Flight Attendants, Healthy Workplace

Mesleğin Cinsiyetini Azaltmak: Kadın Uçuş Görevlilerinin Yaşadığı Cinsiyete Dayalı Kariyer Zorluklarını Keşfetmek

Öz

Kabin memurluğu cinsiyete ilişkin basmakalıp yargıların en çok görüldüğü mesleklerden biridir. Bu çalışmanın amacı, kadın kabin memurlarının meslek hayatları boyunca karşılaştıkları cinsiyete dayalı zorlukları keşfetmektir. Araştırma amaçlarına ulaşmak için Türkiye'de 4 havayolunda görev yapan 90 uçuş görevlisine açık uçlu anket uygulanmıştır. Çalışmanın sonuçları, kadın kabin memurlarının zorunlu makyaj kurallarına tabi olma, toplumun olumsuz ön yargısıyla karşı karşıya kalma, yolcu ve meslektaşları tarafından cinsel tacize uğrama, yolcular üzerinde otorite kurma konusunda zorlanma ve kadın yoğunluklu bir ortamda çalışma ile ilgili çeşitli zorluklar yaşadıklarını ortaya koymaktadır. Özellikle, bu çalışma, kadın kabin memurlarının çalışma yerinde ve günlük yaşamlarında karşılaştıkları psikolojik zorlukları ortaya koymaktadır. Araştırma bulgularına dayanarak geliştirilen öneriler, kadın kabin memurları için daha psikolojik ve fizyolojik olarak daha sağlıklı bir çalışma ortamı yaratmayı ve onların mesleki ilerlemelerine destek olmayı amaçlamaktadır.

Anahtar Kelimeler

Cinsiyet, Estetik Emek, Cinsel Taciz, Kadın Uçuş Görevlileri, Sağlıklı İşyeri

Kaynakça

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