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turtledave OP t1_j5xtlsq wrote

This is my mother when she was a "stewardess" for Pan Am circa 1966 (she WILL correct you if you say flight attendant). I had the photo colorized a few years ago. The stories that she tells -about how in order to be a stewardess at the time you had to be a certain weight and height (and you'd get a write up and put on an action plan to lose weight if you were too heavy), had to wear stockings, and COULDN'T be married (and if you did get married, it was called "marrying out" - which she did) - are outrageous. She has Alzheimer’s now, but before, during and after being a stewardess, she travelled all corners of the world for many years and those are some of the best memories she still has and loves to talk about traveling.

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Old-Ad5818 t1_j5xwow2 wrote

What‘s the difference between a stewardess and a flight attendant?

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turtledave OP t1_j5xwziz wrote

Nothing, but the term stewardess fell out of favor years ago (probably 30), I think primarily because of its gender connotation (even though steward is a word) and the rise in male flight attendants. Now flight attendant is used and you don’t have to gender the term.

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HawkeyeTen t1_j5ynxrz wrote

Funny thing is, I've always felt that the title "stewardess" was actually more glamorous and empowering for these ladies. "Flight attendant" to me almost gives images of being a servant, while the other gives the idea of them enforcing the rules and being in charge to an extent. Same thing for the men with the title "steward".

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