Nell McShane Wulfhart

Part I. Patt -- Honeybuns on the charm farm -- Gloves to grievances -- The airstrip -- Sonia in fantasyland -- What the BFOQ? -- Black mollies -- Think of her as your mother -- Do women age faster on airplanes? -- In and out of uniform -- Part II. Tommie -- Flying pianos -- Pregnancy and pursers -- The case of Mary Pat -- Men on board -- Smiling through it all -- Stewardesses for women's rights -- We really move our tails for you -- First the commies, then the feminists -- The single room contract -- Part III. Patt and tommie -- Stay or go? -- Election day -- Professionals at last.

How Women Launched a Workplace Revolution at 30,000 Feet

The Great Stewardess Rebellion

Off Menu

The empowering true story of a group of spirited stewardesses who “stood up to huge corporations and won, creating momentous change for all working women.” (Gloria Steinem, co-founder of Ms. magazine) It was the Golden Age of Travel, and everyone wanted in. As flying boomed in the 1960s, women from across the United States applied for jobs as stewardesses. They were drawn to the promise of glamorous jet-setting, the chance to see the world, and an alternative to traditional occupations like homemaking, nursing, and teaching. But as the number of “stews” grew, so did their suspicion that the job was not as picture-perfect as the ads would have them believe. “Sky girls” had to adhere to strict weight limits at all times; gain a few extra pounds and they’d be suspended from work. They couldn’t marry or have children; their makeup, hair, and teeth had to be just so. Girdles were mandatory while stewardesses were on the clock. And, most important, stewardesses had to resign at 32. Eventually the stewardesses began to push back and it’s thanks to their trailblazing efforts in part that working women have gotten closer to workplace equality today. Nell McShane Wulfhart crafts a rousing narrative of female empowerment, the paradigm-shifting ’60s and ’70s, the labor movement, and the cadre of gutsy women who fought for their rights—and won.

Nell McShane Wulfhart

About

Books

Join the club