Since when did airlines become the fashion police? Since now. A burlesque dancer from Seattle boarding a JetBlue flight was recently told her outfit was "inappropriate," and asked to change.
Was Maggie McMuffin (stage name) wearing nipple tassels? Was her vayjay hanging out in full view? Nope. She was wearing short shorts - you know, the kind worn by basically every teenager on the high street in every single city.
McMuffin was travelling immediately following a performance and had already completed one leg (no pun) of her journey with JetBlue when she was told her clothing may offend families on the flight from Boston to Seattle.
McMuffin was politely asked to change, so not wanting to miss her flight she complied and bought a pair of large PJs for “proper coverage” just so she could get home.
The incident was slut shaming at its finest. JetBlue has since offered the woman a credit for the flight. But what McMuffin really wants is for the airline to apologize and overhaul its ridiculous, entirely subjective dress code.
"If companies are going to seek action against people like me, they should clearly list their boundaries and their dress code," said McMuffin. "I think this seems like a small thing, but it's connected to a lot of larger things in our society, and it's something JetBlue really needs to analyze."
She's absolutely right. This incident is sadly not isolated; it's connected to a much broader attempt to shame women's bodies - whether it's in public places or online.
Companies that require dress codes should have clear policies in writing, available to customers prior to booking. And when it comes down to it, what clothing is so offensive to fellow passengers that it should keep people off flights? The only thing that comes to mind involves the kind of clothing that exposes genitalia or promotes hateful slogans.
Oh, and sandals worn with socks, but that's just me. The fact is, true fashion crimes should be objective and non-judgmental.
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