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NZ Herald
November 30 2005
Airlines demonise male passengers
Readers respond
Qantas
passenger Mark Worsley was asked by stewards to shift from his seat beside a
child because the airline allows only women to sit next to unaccompanied children.
Here, readers give their views on the policy, which also applies at Air New
Zealand.
I am tired of seeing all men marginalised because of a few. It is not only
political correctness gone wrong, it is discrimination on the basis of
gender. I think the gentleman concerned should bring a charge of
discrimination. Will movie theatres be required to allocate seats so that I
cannot sit next to a child in a movie theatre?
Fed-up Father
* * *
Who did they ask before putting such a potentially damaging policy in place?
As a regular flyer it galls me that a child (who may fly infrequently) gets a
seat next to cabin crew for the child's comfort and "safety" when
those of us who keep these airlines in the air can't get an upgrade, even
when money is offered.
Richard Stevens
* * *
Who wants to sit next to kids anyway? But rather than move the male
passenger, why couldn't the child have been moved? Or why couldn't the
"problem" have been detected at check-in, when seating is
allocated? Now what do I have to do so that the airline won't allow me to sit
next to morbidly obese or drunk people?
Andrew Stevenson, Mairangi Bay
* * *
Perhaps Mr Worsley and (National Party MP) Dr Wayne Mapp would rethink their
criticism of the airlines' policy pertaining to unaccompanied children flying
alone if they had to fight off a false allegation of child abuse lodged by a
child, parent or even another passenger. Would Mr Worsley feel comfortable
allowing his children to be seated unknowingly next to a convicted sex offender?
Serwind Netzler, Nevada
* * *
New Zealand is sick of these ridiculous policies and especially ones that are
blatant discrimination against men. I have numerous flight attendant friends
who confirm that the policy up until now has worked well with children
travelling alone being seated close to where the flight attendants are mostly
working. How many incidents of abuse go on in the air? My friends have never
encountered any.
John Squire
* * *
To have large commercial organisations and female public officials promote a
prejudiced viewpoint of male/child relationships risks further societal
antipathy towards men caring for children. The inevitable consequence of this
is further feminisation of child rearing and education, to the detriment of
the healthy development of boys and girls, who all need men involved in their
upbringing.
Paul Le Grice
* * *
Indiscriminate stereotyping of the male population of New Zealand under the
blanket of policy smacks of sexism. Men should vote with their wallets.
Julian Williams
* * *
Perhaps you can point out to these airlines that should they ever ask me to
move, I will sue them for defamation, humiliation, discrimination and every
other thing I can think of. I imagine a lot of others would do the same.
Mark Burgess
* * *
As the leader of an organisation that matches men as mentors to fatherless
boys I find the actions of Air NZ highly offensive. Their actions clearly say
that all men are unsafe to be with children. If Air NZ and Qantas believe
this is what their customers want they should prepare for a strong reaction
from their male customers. Creating a climate of fear is not creating a
better world for our children.
Richard Aston
Chief executive Big Buddy
* * *
Please pass on my thanks to the airlines for pointing out that we men are
predators. I had no idea that I posed a threat to children but rest assured I
will endeavour to avoid contact with children at all times from now on. I
will also seek psychiatric treatment for being a man.
Chris Pettit
* * *
I am sorry. I have a child. This is not political correctness. This is what I
would want. Do I think every man is a child molester? No, but I think that
more men have molested more children than women have. Do I want my child to
talk to strangers? No. Do I want my child talking to strange men? Never. This
guy who has children should think of the child first and not his bruised ego.
Caron Schwartz
* * *
The airline might as well hang a sign around the male passenger's neck saying
"Possible paedophile". The trouble is that the airlines will ALWAYS
hide behind what they describe as "parents' preferences" and no one
will have the guts to challenge them on it.
Phillip Churchill
* * *
It is understandable for airlines to err on the side of caution, but this was
bungled badly. The only consolation at the moment for Mr Worsley is that this
is company policy and therefore he should not take it personally.
C. Wright, Howick
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The corporate policy of Air New Zealand and Qantas to seat only women near
unaccompanied children is insulting to men (and I am sure to many women) and,
in its gender focus, in breach of human rights. To base this policy on the
grounds that some men do molest children is as absurd as it would be to ban
Muslims from sitting next to Christians (or even from boarding the plane)
because some Muslims are terrorists.
Dr Volker Knuefermann
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If I were Mark Worsley, I would be angry and insulted. But if I was the woman
who was forced to sit next to the unaccompanied child, I would be even more
angry and insulted. Just as I'm sure there are women as well as men who
consider sitting next to a child on a plane to be their worst nightmare, I'm
sure there are men as well as women who don't mind it in the least (likely
because they're parents themselves).
Adrienne Collier, New Jersey, USA
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If the article had not stated Mark Worsley was travelling Christchurch to
Auckland I would have said he lived on another planet. I applaud Qantas and
Air New Zealand for doing their bit to try to keep our children safe.
Diane Kendall, Orakei
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