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The mile high club just got a whole lot weirder

Lauren Rosewarne

by Lauren Rosewarne

21 Feb 05:50am

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Filed under: Air Travel, Airlines, Political Correctness, Sexuality, Thailand, Transgender, Travel

46 comments

An upstart Thai airline recently revealed that it had begun hiring “third sex” staff. By third sex, the airline means trannies. Pre-op, post-op, they don’t appear all that fussed; apparently they’re an inconclusive mob over there at PC Air.

Which way to the aerobridge, fellas? Pic: AP

A win for the rights of transgender and transsexual people the world over? Hmm. I’m 30. Not so young, but certainly so, so cynical.

I’m guessing that the airline name comes from the initials of the founder, Peter Chan, although in the West, PC has connotations centred on computers. And politics. The later, no doubt, underpins the temptation to rejoice.

No surprises, I’m a bleeding heart. I want everyone treated better. Well, maybe not Lexus drivers, but pretty much everyone else. Better rights for women, for ethnic minorities, for the transgendered, for the transsexual. I want surgery choices respected, even those which make us queasy.

On the surface, inviting third sex applicants to cross the aerobridge seems like the kind of progress the Left has been waiting for. Equal access to employment, to the economy, of course, are fundamental to inclusion.

I’m just not so sure PC Air are really the equality champions they’re purporting.

Richard Branson is high up on my list of most loathed creeps. His entire empire appears largely built on scarcely-clever innuendo and scantily clad women draping themselves over his “assets”. Nowhere is this more evident than in the branding of his airlines.

Mind you, Branson didn’t concoct the idea of sexualising women in subordinate roles. He didn’t dream up form-fitting uniforms, didn’t coin the term “trolley dolly”. His airline just happily promoted the unofficial G-string policy.

From Southwest Airlines in the 70s, Singapore Airlines’ Singapore Girl in the 80s and more recently the sleazy efforts of Virgin Atlantic, V Australia and Russia’s Avianova, airlines have long seduced us into parting with our cash through the lure of lipstick and heels. Even Lynx, the favoured deodorant of zit-ridden fourteen-year-old boys everywhere, made notoriously good use of such staples.

Whether we like it or loathe it, sexual innuendo has long been an undercurrent of the airline industry. So, when a Thai airline boasts third sex staff, I’m inclined to wonder whether the dreams Chan is promising to make “come true” are those of his new third sex staff, or – as I suspect – of his passengers.

People travel to Thailand for all kinds of reasons including elephants, tinnies of Singha, hair braiding and counterfeit consumer foods. More controversially, some people go purely for the kinky sex.

A handful of countries have become destinations for people – most often, but not exclusively men – to procure the kind of sex they can’t get at home. Or the kind that’s illegal at home. Or frowned upon at home. Or damn well expensive at home.

Sex with “ladyboys” is a popular menu item in Thailand.

PC Air hasn’t quietly offered work to third sex employees in a gentle, unassuming, championing-of-human-rights kind of way. Nope, they’ve issued a press release. Chan’s calling himself a “pioneer”. The airline is positioning itself as some sort a doyenne of decency. And is simultaneously making the new staff wear special gold-coloured “third sex” badges. (Whether these will take the form of patches, sewn to uniform sleeves, is yet to be determined).

In a competitive market, airlines need to achieve cut-through. Just as Virgin Blue plays up the fun, sexy, youth elements and Qantas tries desperately to clutch on to patriotism and safety, PC Air is playing up the kink.

I like equal opportunity. I might even love it. Less appealing is what smells a little like exploitation, a lot like dirty marketing and in time, a whole lot like impending sexual harassment litigation.

Most commented

46 comments

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    • Tedd says:

      05:31am | 21/02/11

      It would be interesting to know what proportion of transgender persons are born transgender i.e. as intersexes (previously more referred to as hermaphrodites).  there are various permutations and some are not readily identified, ever.

      Reply

    • Erick says:

      07:11am | 21/02/11

      “I want everyone treated better. Well, maybe not Lexus drivers, but pretty much everyone else. Better rights for women, for ethnic minorities, for the transgendered, for the transsexual.”

      In other words, better treatment for everyone except straight white males. This is discrimination, of course. How about equal treatment for everyone?

      As for “Lexus drivers”, this seems to be a code word for well-off white men. Of course, making this group representative of all is an example of the Apex Fallacy. This is frequently used by feminists, who claim that the tiny portion of men in positions of great wealth and power somehow means that all men are wealthy and powerful.

      The men at the bottom of the heap are simply invisible, and don’t count. This is the false egalitarianism of the Left, which only believes in human rights when they are applied to specifically approved racial or sexual groups.

      Reply

    • Horse says:

      07:36am | 21/02/11

      In saying “Better rights for women, for ethnic minorities, for the transgendered, for the transsexual,” Lauren did not refer to men, but why the additional descriptor of white in your complaint, Erick?

      Likewise, Lexus drivers - why deny women drive those cars, Erick?

      The “apex fallacy” - is that a new one? or just one that is emphasised by a magazine that expresses a “growing voice, and combines the talents of some of the Anglosphere’s best bloggers on men’s issues”?

      http://www.the-spearhead.com/about/

    • maybe says:

      08:24am | 21/02/11

      ah yes, the apex fallacy fallacy.

    • Reg says:

      08:28am | 21/02/11

      @Erick. “This is the false egalitarianism of the Left, which only believes in human rights when they are applied to specifically approved racial or sexual groups.”

      No mention of the Right of course because they don’t believe in equality at all, other than in the right to succeed mightily, or fail miserably.

      There will never be absolutely equality as long as there are two sexes and up until now I’ve never heard anyone suggest the need to alter this.

      In fact I’d have thought that Right Wing policy was to allow one or other, the perfect right to become “the bottom of the heap or invisible.” To put it more succinctly, sexual equality flies in the face of Right Wing philosophy which thrives on division.

      I think you need to review your political position Erick.

    • Geoff - Brisbane says:

      08:40am | 21/02/11

      You forgot to add Christians. People are entitled to their beliefs without judgement, unless they’re Christians.

      If you hit the Quadrella, (straight white male christian) then you are the enemy of the PC brigade.

    • AdamC says:

      09:06am | 21/02/11

      I agree, Erick, what does ‘more rights’ mean? I get the impression that, despite the rhetoric about equality, most commentators and activists of Lauren’s sort are really after special privileges for their favoured group or groups, like what happens in Malaysia with the ‘bumiputera’ (Malay muslims) who receive special privileges at the expense of other groups in society. Of course, the outcome of this in Australia would be that poor Mr Whitey would be systemically discriminated against in favour of perceived victim groups.

    • Reg says:

      10:10am | 21/02/11

      @AdamC “who receive special privileges at the expense of other groups in society.”

      Well of course those who are raised from the bottom of the heap, or as Erick describes them, the “invisible,” would be gaining privileges at the expense of those at the top. Is that evil?

      Even Geoff’s complaint about religious differentiation welcomes the aura of victim so that others who are not of his belief system are seen as discriminatory. Religion and right-wing politics are inherently divisive and ever-welcome the opportunity to shore up that division.

    • Markus says:

      10:51am | 21/02/11

      @Reg, why do you see it as inevitable that granting rights to one group will be at the expense of the rights of another group? Does that not defeat the entire purpose of the exercise?

    • Geoff - Brisbane says:

      12:00pm | 21/02/11

      @Reg - You proved my point Reg. My point reg was that you lefties believe discrimination is alright or doesnt exist as long as its against the big 4 (straights, whites, men, christians) and there you go at it claiming that Christians can not be discriminated against.

      Also what made you think I was a Christian? I just like pointing out the hypocracy of the left.

    • AdamC says:

      12:14pm | 21/02/11

      Reg, your comment is practically incomprehensible, but I get the drift. My point was that, if you aggregate all the claims of all the supposed victims, that just leaves unrepresented Mr non-victim Whitey to carry the can. That is a little different to Malaysia, where everyone except the privileged group is penalised but, given that Malays are about half the population, it amounts to the same thing.

      The irony is that, rather than elevating the native Malays, they have become totally dependent on affirmative action and special funding. People like me would have said that was inevitable, but now it is too late.  Why Australia would consider going down a similar path is beyond me.

    • NEFFA says:

      12:19pm | 21/02/11

      Erick, i always find your ability to turn anything into a “what about me?” whinge highly entertaining, but this is a stretch even for you.

      The story is about Thailand. How many straight white men do you think are living in Thailand that are being discriminated against?

    • Reg says:

      12:24pm | 21/02/11

      @Marcus. “why do you see it as inevitable that granting rights to one group will be at the expense of the rights of another group?”

      It is obvious that if one has all the gold, he will have less if he has to share it.

      This is the way right-wingers see it and if they have to share some of the gold in order to make the workers more productive, it is in the controllers interests to ensure that the helpers never challenge their supremacy.

      It’s all a matter of degree, not one of equality. Hills and valleys, equality is not achievable, but the extremes are avoidable. Moderation of the type that Erick and many other right-wingers fail to comprehend. Indeed, even second hand, Erick has heavies stalking the halls of Democracy in the frenzy of his right-wing silliness demonstrating daily his extremely dangerous and unbalanced attitudes. I suppose it’s only political over-kill in the same vein as is most of what he writes.

    • Kika says:

      12:26pm | 21/02/11

      Yes Erick, white men are SO discriminated against. Considering the run the world and all…

    • Steely Dan says:

      12:29pm | 21/02/11

      @ Erick

      “In other words, better treatment for everyone except straight white males. This is discrimination, of course. How about equal treatment for everyone?”
      I think you’re looking for some anti-straight-white-male sentiment that isn’t there.  The author is saying (I think correctly) that women, ethnic minorities, transsexuals etc are not treated as well as they should be - ie. with the same respect that straight white males deserve and enjoy.  Saying that transsexuals etc should be treated ‘better’ does not necessarily mean ‘better than we treat straight white males’. 

      If anyone considers singling out groups for better treatment a form of discrimination, that’s fine.  I discriminate against rich kids when I give charity $ to poor kids, and I don’t feel bad for it.  I single out groups for worse treatment, too.  I support the jailing of criminals.  Discrimination isn’t always a bad thing.

    • Grumpy says:

      12:44pm | 21/02/11

      LOL you’re a classic.

    • AdamC says:

      12:54pm | 21/02/11

      Kika, isn’t that what anti-semites say about Jews?

      And just how do these ‘white men’ run the world?

    • HappyCynic says:

      12:55pm | 21/02/11

      @Erick and all morons who think (and I use that term lightly) like you

      Whinging about losing your smug sense of superiority over other religions, races and sexes is pointless.  Other people are equal to straight, white, christian males.

      Your right to feel superior to all other humans is the only right you’ll ever lose and quite frankly it can’t come soon enough.  Your ranting only exposes your own lack of confidence about yourself and reflect no truth or reality whatsoever.

      BTW the comment in the article about Lexus drivers seems to indicate Lexus drivers are sh*t drivers.  Compared to BMW drivers who are cashed up bogans (and sh*t drivers).  The car of a good driver is a Mercedes, preferably AMG, 2008 or later.  I’ll make concessions for Audi drivers they’re ok too smile

    • Reg says:

      12:58pm | 21/02/11

      @Geoff;  “My point reg was that you lefties believe discrimination is alright or doesnt exist as long as its against the big 4.”

      “Alright?” “Doesn’t exist?”  “as long as”

      Try as I might, I do not understand your point, nor for that matter can I see where I assumed you were Christian. You’d better read again.

      Lifting someone up from a lower status is certainly discriminating in their favour and it takes some sacrifice from those better disposed to do this.

      Am I to believe that you regard such charitable or social endeavours as unwelcome discrimination against those who do not need that assistance? If you expect social, taxation, religious or any other sort of total equality in society, it’s not going to happen. There will always be discrimination just as there will never be equality and if there was NOT, Erick would have nothing to write about.

    • Markus says:

      02:02pm | 21/02/11

      @Reg, I can’t really follow your gold analogy. That seems to go on the assumption that civil rights and equal opportunity (note equal opportunity, not equal outcome) are finite resources.

      Again, ensuring equal rights by diminishing the rights of others, rather than increasing the rights of all, surely defeats the entire purpose.

    • Matthew says:

      03:31pm | 21/02/11

      There’s 2 things that Erick points out every post and some people seem to miss it.

      1. Women in Australia are reaching the point of equality (and most know it).  Currently they’re allowed to work the same as men.  They earn the same wage (assuming they’re working for the same company, doing the same job and meeting all the required targets).  They get half in the divorce (sometimes more, sometimes less dependning on things).  Domestic rape (and all rape) is illegal. etc etc.  But (some) women are still asking for more to the point where things are no longer equal (which they never will be since males and females are physically very different).

      2. Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders in this country receive more money (e.g. Abstudy) than white males and all the other minority groups are sticking up their hands and saying “what about me?”.  This is discrimation against white males.

      It’s impossible to stamp out discrimination, the only way would be to start everyone off on an equal playing field.

    • Dan says:

      06:00am | 22/02/11

      Erick, Don’t you mean straight white christian males?

    • Mike Ceighton says:

      12:38am | 23/02/11

      Erickk just get over it.  You are a WASP. WASPs whinge about anything non-WASPish.  They always have.  We know that..  Stop boring us with this endless griping and self-obsession.

    • TChong says:

      07:21am | 21/02/11

      Lauren- being a “hostie” of whatever gender is hardly a form of compulsary national service.
      Anyone entering the industry for those particular airlines knows exactly what they are doing.
      They are paid well to look pretty.
      Sex sells, and the “hosties” know it , and are willing participants.

      Reply

    • Markus says:

      10:17am | 21/02/11

      Feminist writers on this site seem to have extreme difficulty in accepting the fact that after their predecessors fought so hard for freedom of choice for women, so many women are still freely choosing professions that make money from sex appeal.

      In their minds any girl who has made a choice to pursue such a career (model, flight attendant, back-up dancer in a Kanye video) must have been manipulated by the evil Patriarchy somehow.

    • TChong says:

      10:43am | 21/02/11

      Because Markus, while you are a “victim”, you bear no responsiblity , thus excusing the obvios contradiction you mention - ie women CHOOSING to use their sex appeal,
      Feminism 101 cant deal with it, so therefore its irrelavant, to their argument.

    • killerbee says:

      07:42am | 21/02/11

      I am so fed up with journalists who have an agenda. It’s like the journalism part is supplementary to the real mission.
      It’s like going to a doctor with a sprained wrist and instead of traditional treatment the doctor treated you with acupuncture, with no advance warning or notice.

      I want journalists to tell me the facts and then allow me to add MY bias to the story. Not tell me the facts with a right wing or left wing spin to it.

      Ms Rosewarne, you should resign immediately and seek work in social welfare or politics and not try to influence unsuspecting readers with your stated political view.

      Reply

    • misfit says:

      11:09am | 21/02/11

      “try not to influence unsuspecting readers”
      Do you not know the philosophy behind The Punch?

      According to this very website http://www.thepunch.com.au/about-us/ “It is for every Australian with a passion for debate. We’ll feature some of the nation’s best writers and biggest names discussing current events in politics, entertainment, sport, business and more.”

      killerbee, if you’ve nothing to contribute to the debate, then don’t waste space complaining about the stated aims of The Punch, go somewhere else.

    • Syl says:

      12:19pm | 21/02/11

      Uh Killerbee

      You realise The Punch is an opinion site, right?

    • Nixy says:

      07:56am | 21/02/11

      Oh come on! Your seriously trying to tell us that the hiring of transgender’s as airline staff is motivated by the lure of the ‘kinky sex’ tourist? Not only is it absurd, it’s kind of offensive! An airline is FINALLY opening the doors for a minority who would otherwise have to work in whatever job they could get; as I’m not sure there are many white collar positions available. Marginally, many of them are forced to sell themselves, in order to survive. A legitimate and fantastic opportunity is presented and your cynical piece places this job as little more than just another sexual curiosity laid out for the tourist dollar.

      It must be a very dark world you live in.

      Reply

    • AFR says:

      11:10am | 21/02/11

      Exactly. The author may as well have said that all ladyboys are hookers, as that is the inference I got from it.

      The Sing Air girl gained a reputation as being well-presented, and being there to serve. Have you seen their uniforms? Elegant, but not exactly slutty.

    • e-girl says:

      08:14am | 21/02/11

      @Tedd:  quite a high proportion of trans people are also intersexed - I know several, and I had an abnormality found in girls, despite my apparent physical sex.  This is quite apart from the results of brain imaging studies that show that being trans can be described as a neurological intersex condition i.e. we literally do have the brain we claim to have.

      This story is newsworthy, but not for the reasons most in the media thought.  Thai society is very tolerant, partly because of the Buddhist belief that we all have our karma to work through.  Note, however, that I did not say accepting (although a large proportion of Thais are).

      Thailand has military conscription.  When someone who is trans turns up with their ‘you must appear’ letter, they are summarily rejected.  Unfortunately, the reasons cited on their discharge papers follow them around for life and disqualify them from many occupations, including most professions.  So, maybe this is good, although having seen an extended interview with the owner of that airline, it is clear that his motivations are more of the sensationalist publicity-seeking, come-and-see-the-freak-show type.

      Whereas, in Australia someone who is trans (or intersex) can change their name, all their papers etc., and obtain a new birth certificate, even changing one’s name in Thailand is problematic for trans people.  Stop and ponder the humiliation that can bring.  The rights of trans people regarding marriage and property are also precarious in Thailand - the situation in Australia is no different from anyone else’s.  Indeed, there were politicians called for sex reassignment surgery to be banned in Thailand quite recently.

      So, Thailand ... the people are wonderful (quite how they can tolerate the appalling behaviour of many tourists is a mystery), and their surgeons are the best.  It would be lovely if Thai law makers could catch up with Thai culture.

      As for trans people, a google search (with safe search off) is not reality.  The reality is that we are surprisingly boring and we might be the person in the next cubicle, without you realising it.  Sorry to puncture any fantasies.

      That’s my 2.2 cents worth (incl. GST).  Hopefully it’s enlightened some ...

      Reply

    • Just Sayin' says:

      11:52am | 21/02/11

      “Thai society is very tolerant, partly because of the Buddhist belief that we all have our karma to work through.  Note, however, that I did not say accepting (although a large proportion of Thais are).”

      Maybe you missed the Thai hit song back in 1994 - Kliet Doot.  It was a hateful little screaming thrash metal number, and very successful.  Kliet Doot translates as ‘hate trangender people”.

    • Davida says:

      08:33am | 21/02/11

      Eric, you SO see the issue.  We need “real” change from within, not just tokenism.  I hope to see the day when this country has even a small number of white males in positions of power, both in politics and business, who are able to determine policy and decision-making for the benefit of all the under-represented, voiceless, oppressed white males .  Until then, stay subversive soul-bro, your time will come.

      Reply

    • dobbieb says:

      09:19am | 21/02/11

      The author of this piece gets into Virgin Blue claiming they only hire flight attendants who are sexually atrtractive. (Forget the blokes) She didn’t say that but thats what she meant. Forget it, they do look good BUT, they are also the happiest lot of employees I have ever had the pleasure of serving me. And that happiness infrects the passengers. Many of the Qantas boilers should have long since gone, and the attitudes at Jetstar can be positivgely off putting. I’ll never fly with them again. Air Canda was very ordinary and I look forward to testing Emirates later in the year. PS at 75 I am also an old boiler.

      Reply

    • MK says:

      02:23pm | 05/03/11

      Better a young happyy steward, tahn a grumpy old one, if niether of them provide good service, But more than often the virgin airlines do provide goodservice, I have had some qantas female stewards who may have been very exeperienced in this service industry but would have had no clue what service meant, and reminded me of grumpy school librarians who would give you a grumpy cold stare (what are you doing in my library) as soon as walked through the door

    • AJ says:

      09:21am | 21/02/11

      I don’t think the third sex hosties will be forced to “service” the passengers by providing them with a “mile high” experience. Nor do I think they’ll be offering “extra services” upon arrival in Thailand.

      I don’t quite understand the connection between the airline having an open policy of happily hiring third sex hosties and people vacationing in Thailand to have sex with ladyboys.

      Reply

    • Reg says:

      11:33am | 21/02/11

      For that matter, why should a ladyboy be denied an opening as a trolly-dolly?

      My main concern is whether they may dither in an emergency situation where indecision may be fatal.

    • Simonious says:

      03:23pm | 21/02/11

      AJ I think you will find that most people who have sex with Ladyboys in Thailand dont even realise that they have.

    • Davo says:

      10:43am | 21/02/11

      At last somebody has told the truth about Virgin!  Let’s not forget the discrimination case Virgin Blue lost over their hiring practices.  Air crew are there to do a job not be ogled by beer-sodden ferals.

      Reply

    • Geoffrey Chaucer says:

      10:50am | 21/02/11

      As long as airlines don’t cut corners on aircraft maintenance, who cares whether air hostesses are heterosexuals, transgenders, transsexuals, bisexuals, non-sexual, white, black, purple, fans of Justin Bieber, or whether any of this is condoned by the political right or the left?

      The only part of a flight I am comfortable with anyway is when the aircraft rolls to a smooth stop at my destination’s terminal.

      Reply

    • James1 says:

      11:19am | 21/02/11

      “I want surgery choices respected, even those which make us queasy.”

      Awesome, I’m getting a dolphinplasty.

      Reply

    • Old Bert says:

      01:10pm | 21/02/11

      What’s a ‘ladyboy’?

      Reply

    • stephen says:

      03:24pm | 21/02/11

      Won’t work here. The Aussies I know, to make sure it’s real, will make a grab for something inflatable, (which may be offputing for the galley-cook), before he makes his pass.

      PS ain’t no substitute for quality.

      Reply

    • S.L says:

      05:26pm | 21/02/11

      If a “ladyboy” is good at their job, more power to them. I don’t care who provides me with a standard of service when I’m flying. As long as it’s to my liking.

      Reply
 
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