09-18-2007
03:51 PM
1 Love
I wholeheartedly agree with Vivita, Debra and many other people on this page who have voiced approval of Southwest's actions. Before I continue, let me say that I am a young heterosexual male and I am far from conservative and prudish. I am also a regular Southwest customer. I enjoy looking at attractive women as much as any other person. However, inappropriate is inappropriate. Let's face it, Kyla is only being considered a victim, because many people consider her to be attractive. And let's be honest, attractive women have been allowed to wear whatever they want, wherever they want for a long time.
Let's consider the following:
As Vivita states, what would have happened if Kyla had been a plus-size man or woman? What if she were say...50+ years of age? Most likely, she would have been kicked off the plane for showing 'a little too much skin' and it wouldn't have even made the news. More than likely, the same people who are crying foul over this incident would have been applauding the action...particularly if it had been a man. "Ugh...what was (she or he) thinking?" They would have said. "No one wants to see THAT!". Do you think that a man wearing short 'Richard Simmons' shorts would have been allowed to board the plane? And God forbid that any man were wearing shorts that accidentally hung open and showed part of his...gasp...underwear. That man would have been escorted off the plane and into police custody in no time. Again, that story would probably not have been newsworthy, because no one would consider that person to be a victim.
And what about the disparity between what is considered appropriate for women and men? I see women walking the streets in 'work out shorts' that are shorter and tighter than my boxer briefs. How long would it take me to get arrested for walking the streets in my boxer briefs?...Even if I look like Brad Pitt. Women are allowed to wear sleeveless shirts, tank tops and shorts to work, while men are sent home for wearing pants that look too casual. How many male office workers are allowed to wear shorts to work? Not many. Let's not even get into the whole issue of how attractive women are encouraged by society to flash their panties and private parts in public. Heaven forbid any man wears any short that fall above the knee...look he's showing (gasp) leg!!!
Inappropriate clothing rules need to be enforced and it needs to be enforced uniformly...regardless of gender, attractiveness and age. Most women I've heard complaining about Southwest's actions admit that they wouldn't want THEIR daughter to dress that way and board a plane. So what makes it okay for Kyla to dress they way she did and get aboard a plane? Until society begins to send a message that it is not acceptable for people to dress a certain way in public, we will continue to have young girls looking up to Paris and Britney....yes, even your daughter.
Again, I applaud Southwest for it's actions and agree with others who believe that Kyla is owed no apology. I've never been more proud to be a Southwest customer. And for those persons who are crying foul because they believe they should be able to wear whatever they want anyplace...welcome to a world with rules.
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