July 10, 2019

"Had they seen that same issue in a woman who was not a woman of color, they would not have felt empowered to take me off the plane."

"In pop culture, especially black women with a body like mine, they’re often portrayed as video vixens. So I’ve had to deal with those stereotypes my whole life"/"We are policed for being black... I’ve seen white women with much shorter shorts board a plane without a blink of an eye. I guess if it’s a ‘nice ass’ vs. a Serena Booty it’s O.K."

Wrote Tisha Rowe — on Twitter and Facebook — quoted in "Woman Required to Cover Up on American Airlines Flight Says Race Was a Factor/Dr. Tisha Rowe was about to fly from Jamaica to Miami when a flight attendant briefly removed her from the plane because of her romper, she said" (NYT).
Dr. Rowe said she was walking to her seat when a male flight attendant, whom she described as black, asked her to return to the front of the plane. Another flight attendant, who was also black, then spoke to her about her appearance while she stood on the jet bridge, Dr. Rowe said.

“She poses the question to me, ‘Do you have a jacket?’” Dr. Rowe said. “I said, ‘No, I do not.’ I’ve been given no explanation as to why I was taken off the plane. So finally she says, ‘You’re not boarding the plane dressed like that.’ Then they started to give me a lecture about how when I got on the plane, I better not make a scene or be loud.”

The airline’s conditions of carriage, which are posted on its website, make a brief reference to a dress code: “Dress appropriately; bare feet or offensive clothing aren’t allowed.”
So... the airline has a dress code with improper grammar. How's a person to know what's "appropriate" in this world? The airline is specific about one thing: bare feet. I take that to mean it's okay to wear flip flops. Or does it depend on whether the feet you expose are hairy and gnarly?

That's the trouble with the "offensiveness" standard! It doesn't address the clothing, but the way other people react to YOU in the clothing. But the airline doesn't want to get specific and say no bared shoulders or clothing must cover your legs at least to mid-thigh — even though your seatmates have an obvious interest in not having to be in contact with your bare flesh.

With that subjective standard, any enforcement is going to feel personal, and inevitably that will mean that people will feel that race and gender and age and level of attractiveness are going to be part of the judgment — whether they are or not. I doubt if the employees enforcing the rule can even know whether they're using inappropriate factors in applying their standard of appropriateness. It's a paradox of propriety.

143 comments:

traditionalguy said...

They should have told her " Mother is not going to like that." Then she could have understood it.

Jake said...

I guess I’m dumb but why is the use of an adverb there bad grammar?

Ralph L said...

Funny that she runs to race after a verbal assault by FAoC.

Unknown said...

Wouldn't it be easier to slip on some pants?

Temujin said...

It's a flight from Jamaica to Miami. Hello! People coming from a tropical location, going to another tropical location are going to usually be dressed very casually, loosely, with more skin showing than someone flying from Boston to Portland, ME. Unless her shorts went up her netherlands, they probably should have done a thing. She'd be sitting the entire time anyway. Might be fun for the person next to her, but other than that, no one would see her again until they arrived in Miami, whereupon multitudes would be walking around in short shorts. Both women and men (much to the chagrin of Althouse).

Ann Althouse said...

"I guess I’m dumb but why is the use of an adverb there bad grammar?"

The grammar error is "aren't" for "isn't." The subject that needs the right verb is "clothing," which is singular. If it had been "bare feet AND offensive clothing," then "aren't" would be correct, but it's "or," so the verb needs to agree with the last noun, "clothing."

Temujin said...

Make that..."should NOT have done a thing."

readering said...

Using same verb for singular noun and plural noun with or.

Fernandinande said...

"Romper Room".

I'm tired of whiny blacks and the INTERNATIONAL fake news about their trivial melodramas based on imaginary racism.

Wince said...

...a male flight attendant, whom she described as black, asked her to return to the front of the plane. Another flight attendant, who was also black...

The inference I drew is "you're embarrassing us".

Paul said...

I see the big thing here is, uh, grammar. Geeze... get a grip folks.

Howard said...

Ann: Why are you conspicuously avoiding any mention of the passing of Rip Torn??? The greatest actor of all time

Xmas said...

They can't be specific. It comes down to how you are wearing the piece of clothing, how it fits your specific body, and how appropriate it is for the situation.

A bikini isn't normally offensive on a beach, but wearing one while serving coffee in a shack can be. Likewise, a sweatshirt is perfectly fine for an airplane...or maybe not. (safe for work-ish 80s nostalgia)

Mattman26 said...

I have a hard time picturing this happening as described. So put me down for calling BS.

tim in vermont said...

Black Jamaicans can be very conservative.

tim in vermont said...

“A bikini isn't normally offensive on a beach, but wearing one while serving coffee in a shack can be. “

Where is this shack? I could use a cup of joe.

traditionalguy said...

The old no Women in shorts rule. But I bet if you pay extra the Airline will let you board the expensive seat section anyway you want. It will always come down to money.

On Epstein Air the teenage women are also forbidden to wear shorts or anything else.

rhhardin said...

It looks like a harmless outfit to me but you can't tell from the pic if a cameltoe is involved.

Ann Althouse said...

"Might be fun for the person next to her..."

It is NOT fun. The seats are really crowded and you pay for your space. The interests of passengers who WANT to have a view or a touch of a fellow passenger are not worthy.

The problem here is unclear, subjective rules and the inability to enforce them without making people feel they're experiencing bias.

You know, sometime the offense to others really is because of the kind of body the passenger has, but the airline can't have a rule that talks about some bodies being more offensive to others (especially if the offense is at all connected to race, including the mere appearance of being about race). The airline has to make a show of treating everyone with respect, and the "offensiveness" standard doesn't work.

We're hearing about this case because the woman is educated and professional. I'll bet if the airline employees knew she was a medical doctor, they'd have let her go to her seat and not said a word.

I say have clear specific rules and let people know about them. But I guess it's a money-loser to say "no shorts." Too bad, but that's where we are as a culture. There was a time when people dressed up to ride on a plane. But that's long gone.

rehajm said...

I’m stuck in the middle seat and the buxom high school girl next to me is spilling out of her romper. Now she’s asleep and snoring and spilling.

Race don’t get a say.

tim in vermont said...

"There was a time when people dressed up to ride on a plane. But that's long gone.”

Pre-deregulation, when the masses had to ride the bus and only the classes flew.

WWMartin said...

"How's a person to know what's "appropriate" in this world?" If that is problematic, why do we have a 'reasonable person' standard used in so much of our legal system?

I Have Misplaced My Pants said...

She looks ridiculous, but no more ridiculous than how many people dress for travel or other public appearances these days.

I saw a woman at the playground area of the mall the other day wearing a shirt that said MY NAME IS MISS FUCKING SUNSHINE in huge letters and no one threw her out or confronted her.

We all accept this now.

Ann Althouse said...

@rh

Yes, you can and the answer is no.

Temujin said...

I'm glad somebody mentioned Rip Torn. Artie

rhhardin said...

Fat or ugly are not allowed.

Karen of Texas said...

Years ago as EDS corporate culture was transitioning to the more laid back GM, then HP environment, employees were given a "casual Friday". There were a few guidelines - no holey jeans, no bared shoulders, etc. The number of adult employees who were unable to assess their compliance with the guidelines was astounding. They lost casual Fridays for quite awhile.

Ann Althouse said...

"“A bikini isn't normally offensive on a beach, but wearing one while serving coffee in a shack can be."

Especially at The Naked Shack.

Wince said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
rhhardin said...

Men can detect really faint cameltoes.

Mr Wibble said...

Most people learn how to dress appropriately for the occasion: a workplace, restaurant, airplane, courthouse, etc.

Most people too, learn how to dress for their body type.


This is incorrect. Most people do not, much to the dismay of the rest of us.

Seeing Red said...

I’ve seen white women with much shorter shorts board a plane without a blink of an eye.

She polices American Airlines passengers? Or was it different companies?

Seeing Red said...

In pop culture, especially black women with a body like mine, they’re often portrayed as video vixens.

So I decided to dress like one?

Seeing Red said...

Was she wearing anything other than a romper?

Let me guess, one strap hanging down?

whitney said...

Yeah race is a factor. Black people dress extremely provocatively

Fernandinande said...

We're hearing about this case because the woman is educated and professional.

The NYT thought a person having an extremely trivial problem boarding a plane is international news because that person was a doctor?

Snort followed by LOL. Thanks for the humor!

Howard said...

Blogger rhhardin said...

Men can detect really faint cameltoes.


You make it sound olfactory, like Clarisse's in Silence of the Lambs.

rcocean said...

Fortunately everyone involved is Black or this would have been RACISM! Becky/The White Man telling a BLACK WOMAN how to dress!

So, she has it backwards. A white flight attendant would've said nothing.

Lloyd W. Robertson said...

The Toronto school board has a new dress code for kids.

"The list of changes includes being able to wear tops that may expose shoulders, backs, stomachs, midriffs, necklines and cleavage. Bottoms may expose legs, thighs and hips."

"The report acknowledges that the school board’s student dress policy has 'been written and enforced in ways that disproportionately and negatively impact: female-identified students, racialized students, gender-diverse, transgender and non-binary students, students with disabilities, socio-economically marginalized students and Indigenous, First Nation, Métis and Inuit students. Focused, explicit, persistent and determined action is required to challenge and overcome this history.'"

"It goes on to say that some of its objectives include recognizing 'that students have both the right to express themselves and the shared responsibility to maintain respectful, safe and positive school climates' and also 'that dress plays a fundamental role in how students build healthy relationships and explore self-identity.'

"However, students are not allowed to wear anything that promotes drugs, violence, hate or prejudice or clothing that threatens health and safety or puts the school at risk. Students are also not allowed to wear headwear that specifically obscures the face, although hats and other cultural headgear are now allowed. Students cannot wear underwear as the only layer of clothing.

As a grey area, students may seek permission to wear bathing suits for swimming activities, sports bras as outerwear, Halloween masks and sports helmets that obscure a face and more."

So I'm guessing: extremely sexualized outfits yes, MAGA hats no.

tim maguire said...

The article includes a selfie in what I presume was the airport bathroom. I don't see how it's offensive, but I expect a "Dr." to present herself better than that.

BarrySanders20 said...

"That's the trouble with the "offensiveness" standard! It doesn't address the clothing, but the way other people react to YOU in the clothing."

Same with speech codes focused on how people react.

Nonapod said...

So the "conditions of carriage" aren't explicit about the prohibition of ladies of ample carriage wearing skin tight cloths?

rcocean said...

Most people don't pick up on the grammar mistake because we automatically substitute a "and" for the "or". Two things aren't allowed.

Fen said...

I think she was pulled out for race but not racism. Which sounds like a contradiction, so let me explain. And let's change the race to white for this example:

Two white girls wearing the same semi-transparent clingy blouse
First one has A cup breasts
Second one has DDs and very perky nipples

I would bet the second one gets pulled off the plane much more often than the first. And I think that's what Tisha Rowe is trying to say with: "I’ve seen white women with much shorter shorts board a plane without a blink of an eye. I guess if it’s a ‘nice ass’ vs. a Serena Booty it’s O.K."

So I guessing Rowe has one of those big bubble butts that seem to be the thing in black culture these days. Put it in a white girl's yoga pants, and what was considered "inappropriate" on a flat ass white girl looks "obscene" on Rowe.

So it's because of her race - the way black female bodies are different from white female bodies, but not a racial prejudice against black people.

John henry said...

Howard,

Artie's dead? Oh no!

I agree with you, one of the greats.

John Henry

Oso Negro said...

Blogger whitey said...
Yeah race is a factor. Black people dress extremely provocatively

7/10/19, 8:46 AM


I guess that might be considered true if you found overweight black women to be attractive.

MayBee said...

Flight attendants come get your people.

Michael K said...


"There was a time when people dressed up to ride on a plane. But that's long gone.”

Pre-deregulation, when the masses had to ride the bus and only the classes flew.


Not true. I flew back and forth between Chicago and LA in college in 1956. There were three classes on airlines like Continental and TWA. First, coach, and tourist. In tourist you had to bring your own lunch. They sold box lunches. I think it was $68 from Chicago to LA or back tourist. People did dress casually but no shorts or wife beater tops,.(The first time I heard the term "wife beater tops" was from my youngest daughter at age 16.

J L Oliver said...

May I bring up my dismay with how people dress for “casual” church services today? Men in tees and shorts, women and girls in yoga pants and short shorts and not much else. Think people! “Come as you are” doesn’t mean you need to trundle in from the beach or shower. Throw a jacket over it!

Fen said...

The inference I drew is "you're embarrassing us".

More likely, customer service policy has been changed to have black officials be the ones to police black customers whenever staffing permits, to protect them against frivolous complaints of racism.

White flight attendant blinks wrong at a black race-hustler and the Airline's lawyers start the meter running.

Caligula said...

"the airline doesn't want to get specific and say no bared shoulders or clothing must cover your legs at least to mid-thigh — even though your seatmates have an obvious interest in not having to be in contact with your bare flesh."

The day is fast approaching when you will have to sign a EULA prior to boarding a commercial aircraft. Government regulation may limit what may be put in it, but presumably the lawyers who write these will insist that, really, the only "right" you have is the right to pay (but the airline's rights are effectively without limit).

So, welcome to the Friendly Skies already.

Ralph L said...

Airlines might also be worried about the body oil on their seats.

Bay Area Guy said...

All the News that Fit to Print -- yeah right!

John henry said...

I was once on a flight, perhaps Chicago to PR, sitting in the window seat. Guy and his wife/girlfriend sit down, her in the middle seat.

She was wearing a skirt, not too mini but thigh length. So we get in the air and she scrunches around, pulls off her underpants and sticks them in her purse.

I did not see anything interesting but it really creeped me out sitting next to her the whole flight.

I wonder if the problem was the shorts, which do not seem too bad to me or just the general hideousness of the outfit. One would expect a grown woman to have more fashion sense.

I would never wear shorts on a plane. I generally wear a long sleeve Tshirt. Also socks. If the plane catches fire I want as much coverage and protection as possible.

Pro tip: I have a special pair of pants for travel. They are about 2 sizes to big. Lots of room to move around in there and they never bunch up.

John Henry

Fen said...

And guys... ya know that joke white girls have about white men having no rhythm?

The best sex I've ever had has been with black women. So seductive, so sensual. Take your breath away. If you haven't, you're missing out on one of life's great pleasures.

Robert Cook said...

Please. All the commenters here criticizing this woman and being condescending to her are simply showing their own intolerance. I don't fly often in any given year or two, but over the past 30 years I've flown frequently enough to have seen many people on airplanes dressed comparably to this passenger, especially in the south. This is everyday street wear in the south in the warm months.

If the airline has a policy against bare shoulders or short shorts or miniskirts, or anything else, they need to specify what apparel is is not considered acceptable, state that passengers in violation of the dress codes will not be allowed on their flight...and they should enforce the policy for everyone, always.

If they're enforcing non-specific dress codes selectively, they are clearly being discriminatory.

HoodlumDoodlum said...

Ann Althouse said...The problem here is unclear, subjective rules and the inability to enforce them without making people feel they're experiencing bias.

Doesn't that describe, you know, most of life? Most social interaction, anyway. "Oh no, the rules on what to do in social situation X are not codified in an exhaustive legal document or code and these unclear, subjective rules might make people against whom they're enforced feel bad or like victims of an unfair bias!"

I mean, yeah, that's pretty much how all human social interactions go! If I try and flirt with a young woman while waiting to board the plane she might takes offense (call me a creep, post my picture to her Instagram for online mobbing, etc) but if Idris Elba flirted with her in the same way in the same situation she might be flattered and flirt back. But we followed the same set of rules and there was a different result--unfair, unfair! It's possible I'd feel that difference was because of our different races...oh no!

This person feels like they were targeted/treated unfairly because of their race. There is literally nothing in the world anyone of us can do to make her FEEL that wasn't the case. Whatever the rules are will always be interpreted and enforced by human beings. If you've already decided that her FEELINGS are valid, or must be treated as valid or worthy of consideration without regard to whether they bear some relation to and agreed-upon objective reality, then there will always be a risk of her feeling like a victim of bias.

The question in this case, as in just about every other case of a similar nature, ought to be: are her feelings reasonable? If you don't subject someone's claims to at least that scrutiny you can't honestly credit her feeling here (of being the victim of racism/bias) with mine (of being the victim of racism/bias when women prefer Idris Elba to me), and caring about one situation but not the other is then a transparent case of "some victims/feelings matter, some don't," which is itself pure bias!

Chris N said...

‘...who identifies as a black woman...’

Stellar reporting over there at the Times.

Leland said...

Bare feet is a safety issue during an evacuation.

Advice to FAs at AA; tell the pilots to lower the cabin temp and hand out blankets.

rcocean said...

I can remembering flying as a college in kid in the 80s and everyone on the plane was dressed well. Some Suit and ties, most people with the sports jacket look. People didn't start showing up in shorts and jogging pants until much later.

Even on our latest trip to the Caribbean, I don't remember anyone dressing down too much. but it was WHITE Plane full of WHITE people and full of WHITE racism. Except for the black, hispanics and Asians passengers who'd been brainwashed by the WHITE MAN.

John henry said...

Blogger I Have Misplaced My Pants said...

"Fuck off, Karen."

How'd they know your name is Karen? Seriously, I am guessing that they did not but used it as an epithet. When did Karen become an epithet? I knew about "Becky"s but not this.

I could complain to the manager but what's to be done? 3 percent unemployment, y'all. Culture is coarse and getting worse.

Robots. This is an article I wrote recently about the unemployment problem in Australia. It is too low and companies can't find employees. Just like the US. HoDe has lots of opportunities for robots. Checkout is just the lowest of the low hanging fruit.

http://www.packagingnews.com.au/industry-4-0-and-iiot/robots-get-results

John Henry

rcocean said...

Bare feet are also a safety issue for the other passengers. I don't want your stinky feet next to me. Who knows where they've been or what you've stepped on.

Fen said...

I could complain to the manager but what's to be done? 3 percent unemployment, y'all.

Nah, you get the manager and demand the address for corporate. I worked at Macy's for the GM. The floor staff may think your complaint is trivial, the manager may too, but he's dog-paddling in rough seas with a dozen other Home Depots in the region, and whoever gets on corporate's radar gets fed to the sharks first.

rcocean said...

BTW, we're all people of color. Just different ones. And Browns, Yellows, and Blacks have nothing in common except they ain't white.

rcocean said...

"This is incorrect. Most people do not, much to the dismay of the rest of us."

Yes, most do. But a significant minority do not and need to instructed and managed. As my parents used to say "There's always one".

Fen said...

CooK: .and they should enforce the policy for everyone, always. If they're enforcing non-specific dress codes selectively, they are clearly being discriminatory.

I agree with you Cook, but see my 8:55am post - I think it's impossible to enforce dress codes non-selectively, you have to make judgement calls. The same piece of clothing can look passable on one body type and inappropriate on another.

Francisco D said...

With that subjective standard, any enforcement is going to feel personal, and inevitably that will mean that people will feel that race and gender and age and level of attractiveness are going to be part of the judgment — whether they are or not.

I guess that even well educated professionals cannot be expected to use good judgment.

Someone has spent too much time in SJW land.

Known Unknown said...

MayBee wins the thread.

Chris N said...

Sorry that’s ..’who identifies as African American and Caribbean American..’

‘Identifies’

That’s a socialist/Communist/anarchist/nihilist/mentally ill/anti common sense sized hole in logic right there.

The garden path had signs for endless Self liberation, radical chic, collective solidarity and a more just, verdant and equal world, but the garden is full of ignorance, crazy politics and conflict.

Please help me see what I’m missing.

narayanan said...

Into the fray I go

If the collective noun refers to the group as a unit, then it takes a singular verb. If it refers to the individuals in the group or the parts that make up the group, then the verb should be plural.

Clothing exhibit A
https://twitter.com/tisharowemd/status/1145497553103929349

The Cracker Emcee Refulgent said...

She's a "video vixen"? Maybe in some dark fetishist corner. Really, this is about her narcissism, not the airline's racism.

Fen said...

What did you pay her? Less than the white hookers? ;-)

LOL no. The only time I paid for a girl was in Indonesia. $20 and she is yours for the entire weekend. And talk about cleaving to her man... You wake up 4am and mention you're thirsty? She jumps out of bed, throws on her clothes and runs 2 blocks down to the market to get you a bottled water.

Hard to put up with spoiled American women after being spoiled like that.

MD Greene said...


The US needs a dress code.

Wilbur said...

Well, she's wrong about one thing: A Serena booty IS a "a nice ass".

gspencer said...

Not WOC.

More like WOEEW - Woman of Exposed & Excessive Weight,

Fen said...

a woman of color

It still amazes me how blind to racism the "woke" crowd can be.

White people are not without color. If you stand them against a white wall they don't blend in. I understand it's a linguistic tool for Intersectionality to keep all their tribes united together against Whitey, but it's a racist expression.

SweatBee said...

"I could complain to the manager but what's to be done?"

You walk out the door, purchase your items from a competitor, and call the manager and corporate to tell them why they lost the sale.

Dude1394 said...

Yea, it’s racist. Eff off, stopped listening or caring immediately.

Robert Cook said...

"She's a "video vixen"? Maybe in some dark fetishist corner. Really, this is about her narcissism, not the airline's racism."

When she says "video vixen," she means "ho."

Chris N said...

Also, Red Robert, like you, comrade, I have experienced the colorful, casual apparel of the Southern and Caribbean black woman. My limited experience and ideology filter how I see the world when I realize here is not a woman, nor a mother, nor a doctor with potentially bad clothing judgment and a maybe a serious lack of professional judgment.

No, here is an oppressed representative of race, class and economic injustice. Fortunately, like you, I happen to be morally expansive and empathetic enough to see what these racists and falsely conscious fools can’t.

In fact, once we comrades overthrow the wrong men, we shall be free to lead all Humans to paradise.

After the revolution I can see her in the fields, working to maintain food production goals in Sector 7. Glorious!

Viva la revolution!

I Have Misplaced My Pants said...

“Karen” = bossy white lady who wants to speak to the manager

Like “Becky,” yes

n.n said...

Ambiguous, perhaps. Diversitist, insufficient evidence.

I Have Misplaced My Pants said...

For example, “Karen” might think ladies should not have their rears and boobs hanging out of their clothes on a flight - or use the F word on the clock in a retail store or on ones clothing -, but “Karen” is a bossy prude and it is right and good to ridicule Karens now.

rcocean said...

The obvious solution is: hand out the burka's and long dresses right before take off.

Lucien said...

She's upset because black airline employees felt empowered?

rhhardin said...

I started the shorts-on-airplanes trend in 1968.

rehajm said...

Karen, would you please speak to the girl sitting in the window seat next to me?

Infinite Monkeys said...

I’ve seen white women with much shorter shorts

If they're asking if she has a jacket, the length of the shorts isn't the problem - the potential of her falling out of the top was.

Francisco D said...

The self-identified African American and Caribbean American looks like she would fit in nicely among Walmart shoppers.

Does it offend me? No more than the stupidity I keep hearing from the Left.

Let's move on. She had her 15 minutes of poor taste infamy.

Dave Begley said...

The Surfside Club is a fish and chicken shack in Omaha next to the Missouri River. The sign by the road reads, "No tank tops, cut offs, swim suits or muscle shirts. Dress decent or stay out."

Classic.

Fen said...

If they're asking if she has a jacket, the length of the shorts isn't the problem - the potential of her falling out of the top was.

Well frack, you got me there.

I withdraw my Bubble Butt Defense from 8:55am

sean said...

Prof. Althouse should schedule a debate with Philip Howard, in which she can explain that justice and civility require long, detailed regulatory codes for every human interaction, and he speaks out for common sense, like simple rules that prohibit inappropriate clothing or offensive speech. https://www.amazon.com/Death-Common-Sense-Suffocating-America/dp/0812982746

stevew said...

I travel for work by air often, I'm usually traveling to a customer meeting so am dressed accordingly (suit and tie or, worst case, sport coat and slacks). If I am not going immediately to a meeting I'll wear jeans, nice shoes and socks, and a casual collared shirt. You do see all sorts of getups and garb, much of it objectionable. Our host's advice is very sensible: publish a clear set of rules (that you distribute at the time of booking) and enforce them.

For the most part I don't pay any attention to the dress of the other passengers - it's part of my policy of non-engagement with others on the flight. The only people that bother me are the very large when they are seated next to me, and those that smell bad, either too much perfume/cologne and those that are days removed from their last shower or bath.

Earnest Prole said...

Is "romper" a noun or a verb?

PB said...

I think it was the amount of bare back in her outfit. Not much better than a 2-piece swimsuit. A hygenic issue. However, this should be spelled out in writing to assist those stupid and irresponsible people.

PM said...

Wish they'd stop boarders who are sneezing or sick. Hate flying in that can of germs.

Ken B said...

Does evidence matter anymore? There is no evidence that race had anything to do with it.

Jupiter said...

“We apologize to Dr. Rowe and her son for their experience, and have fully refunded their travel."

At least they paid her reparations.

Chuck said...

It's interesting how there seems to be an unspoken subtext that this woman was kicked off the flight for her choice of apparel. I saw a Washington Post headline stating that the woman was "barred from American Airlines flight..."

But she wasn't, was she? She took the flight. And the flight attendants never really wanted to bar her from flying. They wanted her to cover up for the comfort of all of the other passengers, isn't that right? Step one was to take her out of the cabin, to the jetway, and ask if she had any other outerwear to put on. And ultimately, she got back on the plane.

There are so many stories of misbehaving (or not) passengers who get removed (justly or unjustly) from airplanes, the public seems to jump to that conclusion in every case.

This passenger's ultimate gripe is that "American Airlines singled me out, to talk to me, before I took their Jamaica-to-Miami flight." And that is actionable... as what?

What I don't think anybody asked is this; who goes to Jamaica in July?

{#6}

Fen said...

Hat tip on making it to 6.

bagoh20 said...

The problem here as in so much of our culture is not the rules, but the lack of respect for them, or more precisely the out-sized respect people have for their own proclivities. Far too many of us have the opinion that whatever we want is A right, regardless of the rights of anybody else. There was a time when a simple rule like "dress appropriately" would have been enough, and in fact. that time didn't even need a rule. Parents and the culture taught people to respect others, especially in public. This disrespect for others, cloaked in self-righteousness is a direct descendant of the sixties cultural shift, which I embraced at the time, but now see as one of the most serious mistakes in our nation's history. I hope it can be reversed, but I don't see how you put that thuggish genie back in the bottle. It has a voice now, a spittle-throwing, screaming voice, and it won't shut up.

Ken B said...

Does evidence matter anymore? There is no evidence that race had anything to do with it.

JAORE said...

Nobody wants to see bare breasts,


Uuuhhhhh...... maybe not NOBODY.

Automatic_Wing said...

Black people hassle each other; whitey to blame. Film at 11!

Robert Cook said...

"Also, Red Robert, like you, comrade, I have experienced the colorful, casual apparel of the Southern and Caribbean black woman."

Uh, no. When I say such apparel is everyday wear in the south in the summer months, I'm not referring only to black women.

Ken B said...

Sean
Yes, exactly. You just cannot get away from judgment in these things. But as usual the lawyer wants a detailed written regulation which only a lawyer can parse.
The airline has clearly reserved the right to exercise judgment, and has exercised it in this case.

bagoh20 said...

"This passenger's ultimate gripe is that "American Airlines singled me out..."

She's lying or delusional. She is the one who singled herself out, and I'm certain that was exactly her intent in dressing like that. It was a "look at me" intent on her part. I guess she wanted every man on the plane to propose marriage on the spot, but I'm sure that too would be offensive. What she really wanted was for every man to think to himself how he wanted to fuck her. That was her intent, which of course she would also claim as offensive, even while secretly desiring it. If nobody noticed her, that would actually be something that pissed her off, but she could't bitch about it.

J. Farmer said...

So two black flight attendants told her her outfit was inappropriate, and the problem is white racism? And what’s with so many of the headlines mentioning her profession (family medicine)? What’s with this implied subtext that physicians should be accorded some special status of privileges?

Original Mike said...

"This disrespect for others, cloaked in self-righteousness is a direct descendant of the sixties cultural shift..."

I don't know about the cause, but you've certainly identified the problem.

Original Mike said...

"What she really wanted was for every man to think to himself how he wanted to fuck her."

I would pay not to. Yuck.

Known Unknown said...

"So two black flight attendants told her her outfit was inappropriate, and the problem is white racism? And what’s with so many of the headlines mentioning her profession (family medicine)? What’s with this implied subtext that physicians should be accorded some special status of privileges?"

Yeah, I kind of hate everyone (media included) in this story.

Known Unknown said...

Actually, I called this a "story" when in fact, it's not a news story. My bad.

This is the problem with endless "news."

cubanbob said...

"What I don't think anybody asked is this; who goes to Jamaica in July?"

Chuck, the ones who can't afford to there in December.

Mark said...

"Dress appropriately"

Come on. It ain't that hard. And shouldn't be that hard for a doctor.

Kevin said...

"Had they seen that same issue in a woman who was not a woman of color, they would not have felt empowered to take me off the plane."

So she's a doctor AND a mind reader!

Most of what passes for racism these days comes down to mind reading.

First, the victim reads the minds of the people who made them outraged.

Then, society reads the minds of the people who've they've never met and never will.

Finally, everyone feels better having scorned the people they didn't know for the acts they didn't witness.

Mark said...

the way other people react to YOU in the clothing

Well, that is just of the things that you have to put up with if you want to live in a universe with other people in it. The fact is that our freedom is a shared freedom.

Fernandinande said...

“We apologize to Dr. Rowe and her son for their experience, and have fully refunded their travel."

Rather than apologize, the airline should've sued her for making phony accusations of racism. Gibson's Bakery set a good precedent.

Mark said...

Two black flight attendants take exception to something about a black passenger.

Doesn't really seem the place for a bunch of white folks to stick their noses into it.

J. Farmer said...

Most of what passes for racism these days comes down to mind reading.

“Racism” is pretty much the only answer progressives have to explain black pathology and underperformance. Given how much overt racism has receded (with little change in the racial gap), ever more exotic examples are required. Microagressions, implicit bias, hate hoaxes.

Mike (MJB Wolf) said...

I’m so tired of race based arguments. Cover your ass woman. Airlines tell females to cover up all the time. Sad they don’t have the wisdom and self-respect to cover their ass in public anyway. To argue about it just proves the airline correct.

bleh said...

Her twitter account lists her name with "MD, MBA" appended to it. Tells you a lot about what kind of person she is.

Fernandinande said...

So two black flight attendants told her her outfit was inappropriate, and the problem is white racism?

Dr.[and don't you forget it!] Tisha Rowe says: "I believe that the systemic racism we still see in this country towards people of color is terrifying, sickening and prevalent."

So she's terrified and sickened by imaginary racism.

bleh said...

I see a lot of people in her replies -- and she's been retweeting them -- saying, in effect, it wouldn't have happened if the airline knew she was a medical doctor. What? So as a doctor she should get preferential treatment, and that would be a just and right result to her and her supporters? I guess I don't understand what it is they're trying to say. That they support a certain sort of discrimination that would be good for this woman?

Balfegor said...

Re: Bagoh20:

The problem here as in so much of our culture is not the rules, but the lack of respect for them, or more precisely the out-sized respect people have for their own proclivities. Far too many of us have the opinion that whatever we want is A right, regardless of the rights of anybody else. There was a time when a simple rule like "dress appropriately" would have been enough, and in fact. that time didn't even need a rule. Parents and the culture taught people to respect others, especially in public.

Part of the problem is that it goes both ways, though. People are simultaneously taught that they can do whatever they want in the name of self-expression, and also that offense is in the entirely subjective eye of the beholder, and if they don't like what someone else says or does, it's a "micro-aggression" (or a macro-aggression) and it's their moral duty to complain about it loudly. That creates a public space where people's self-centred conduct is constantly running into other peoples' sense of offense, and vice-versa. When our hostess says:

With that subjective standard, any enforcement is going to feel personal, and inevitably that will mean that people will feel that race and gender and age and level of attractiveness are going to be part of the judgment

That's not limited to this situation -- it's literally every situation today where someone takes offense to or criticises something someone else does or says. And every situation seems personal because it is. As you say, there's no shared understanding of propriety.

Fen said...

saying, in effect, it wouldn't have happened if the airline knew she was a medical doctor. What? So as a doctor she should get preferential treatment, and that would be a just and right result to her and her supporters? I guess I don't understand what it is they're trying to say.

Ironically, I think the Woke Crowd is implying that "she may be black but she's not like THOSE black people, she's educated and credentialed."

Ralph L said...

What I don't think anybody asked is this; who goes to Jamaica in July?
I had the same question typed out, then remembered she claimed Caribbean ancestry.

I also wondered what Princess Died was doing in Paris in August.

Dude1394 said...

“Blogger Fen said...
More likely, customer service policy has been changed to have black officials be the ones to police black customers whenever staffing permits, to protect them against frivolous complaints of racism.

White flight attendant blinks wrong at a black race-hustler and the Airline's lawyers start the meter running.”

And reparations and set asides and special forms and special graduations.
The democrat party is absolutely destroying this country.

Fernandinande said...

That creates a public space where people's self-centred conduct is constantly running into other peoples' sense of offense, and vice-versa.

That's all fine and dandy, what's fucked up is that outfits like the NYT & WaPo very greatly expand the "public space" by pretending that this trivial nonsense is worthy international news if it comports with their perverse "narrative".

Yancey Ward said...

Howard wrote:

"Ann: Why are you conspicuously avoiding any mention of the passing of Rip Torn??? The greatest actor of all time"

I guess he couldn't dodge death.

Fernandinande said...

On a related issue, people in Florida reproduce with their buttocks:

showed the deputy his butt, ... charges including possessing an open container and exposure of sexual organs in a public area.

Kevin said...

The solution is obviously separate but equal airlines.

American Airlines will have to cooperate and not file a trademark claim against African-American Airlines.

For the good of the country, I think they can let that slide.

Just to be sure, doctors flying AAA will get special acknowledgement during boarding and preferential seating.

I think that takes care of everything here...

Gunner said...

The important thing about this situation is that Rompers are ugly and infantile. A dress is always better.

Skippy Tisdale said...

The important issue, which is not being addressed in this story is that nearly half of all African-American women between the ages of 14 and 49 have genital herpes.

https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=124628530

So the next time you see two African-American women together -- be it walking, on the bus, at a restaurant, etc -- try to guess which of them has the herpes. It's kind of fun, actually.

Sebastian said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Sebastian said...

"an obvious interest in not having to be in contact with your bare flesh."

So short-sleeved shirts are out too?

Michael said...

I have seen way worse. Rare today except on NY flights to see men in ties. Most dress like they are on the way to golf or the gym. All striving to be totally comfy. My personal favorite is the air traveler with a neck pillow on a two hour flight.

Ken B said...

She believes comments about her clothing is about her race not her clothing. She believes this even after they suggested she could change her clothing. In short, no evidence could convince her she is wrong here. The apology just confirms her bias.

Professional lady said...

I wouldn't be comfortable in that outfit on a plane. Too tight for one thing. Think of having to negotiate tight spaces like aisles and lavatories without brushing against people/things that could easily result "disarrangement" of your clothing. Air conditioning for another thing. I always wear somewhat loose clothing on a plane. Usually cropped pants and shirt with 3/4 sleeves.

Leland said...

I finally decided to Google the pic. I didn't want to give a click to NYT bait, and as noted by someone above, this is hardly worth a story. I'm not seeing a problem with the outfit. She works in Houston. It gets hot here. That is not an extraordinary outfit (other than color pattern) to be seen here. If she sat next to me on an airplane, I'd just keep watching the inflight entertainment system. If the FA's took issue, they should be coached. Give her a free ticket, which I think is the real play here, and move on.

Michael K said...

Just to be sure, doctors flying AAA will get special acknowledgement during boarding and preferential seating.

I tend to scrunch down in my seat in case someone has a cardiac arrest, Anonymous, think you.

I was one flight (Southwest) from LA to Baltimore when there were two separate incidents. Some other guy was quick to identify himself. Both times we landed to get the person off the flight and then took off again. I think it took 8 hours to get to Baltimore.

Both cases were panic attacks.

Clyde said...

I tend to be suspicious of stories like these, especially where there is a racial/financial angle. Call it Smollett Syndrome.

n.n said...

A Hutu/Tutsi-inspired act? Shades of progressive South Africa? Since there is no evidence of the employees' diversitist disposition, it seems prudent to investigate the accuser as a potential diversitist and/or Pro-Choicer.

tim in vermont said...

From that NPR article. Wow, talk about word salad from the Dr. Didn’t she know that she was being prompted to blame racism!

NORRIS: Now that explains the higher rate overall for women, but why is the rate so much higher for African-American women?

Dr. HUTCHERSON: Well, I think what has happened over the years is we have developed this increased incident of this virus. And then once the virus is within your community, it makes it much more easily transmitted and for those numbers to increase for African-American women. So, I think that the way to reverse this, which is what we want to do, is to break that cycle by educating younger people and over time, our overall incidents and prevalence will decrease.

NORRIS: It has been suggested that one factor that might help to explain the high rate among African-American women is the high rate of women who have never been married. Just over 40 percent of black women have never been married, which means that they may over their lifetime have more sexual partners which may make them more vulnerable.

Dr. HUTCHERSON: I don't think that there's any evidence that there's more promiscuous behavior, that we have as significant number of sexual partners over a lifetime. So, I would not agree that that is the case. I do think that what I've seen in my practice is that young women often don't protect themselves in the way that they should protect themselves. I find that there is lot of guilt and shame when it comes to sex and talking about sex.