Woman reveals photos of outfit she was told was too 'inappropriate' for flight
It's 2019, so you'd think people would have better things to do than police what women wear - like you know, dismantle the patriarchy, or make a decision on the farce that is Brexit - but no, those things don't seem to be on the agenda right now.
Case in point: a woman claims she was forced to cover up after her outfit was deemed "inappropriate" on a flight.
Emily O'Connor, who hails from England, took to social media to allege that staff from Thomas Cook - an airline and travel deals company - threatened to remove her from a flight she boarded from Birmingham to Tenerife, Spain.
"Flying from Bham to Tenerife, Thomas Cook told me that they were going to remove me from the flight if I didn’t “cover up” as I was “causing offence” and was “inappropriate”. They had 4 flight staff around me to get my luggage to take me off the plane, [sic]" she wrote on Twitter.
"I informed the staff that there is no “appropriate wear” policy stipulated online. I stood up on the flight and asked if anyone was offended, no-one said a word," she continued. "To top it off they allowed a man hurl abuse at me whilst the Flight manager and 4 air staff stood and said nothing."
"Just a bit more context for those asking: wore this through the airport (security, passport control etc), boarded the plane, told to cover up by the greeting staff, sat down, flight manager and 4 flight staff said I would be removed unless I put a jacket on..."
"Asked the plane (as they were all listening now anyway) if I was offending anyone, no-one said a word. The manager then went to get my bag to remove me from the flight. A man then shouted “Shut up you pathetic woman. Put a f*cking jacket on”- the staff said nothing to him."
"I was given a jacket by my cousin sitting at the front of the plane and they did not leave until I physically put it on. They made comments over the speaker about the situation and left me shaking and upset on my own."
Speaking to Yahoo UK, the 21-year-old elaborated: "It was so mortifying. I was so upset and they could clearly see that yet they continued to note how inappropriate and offensive I was. I was really close to crying.”
And the people of the internet were understandably outraged on Emily's behalf. "I'd raise hell over the way you've been treated. It's out of order," wrote one Twitter user, while another corroborated "What a dreadful way to treat a young lady , absolutely nothing offensive in what you are wearing .Thomas Cook cabin crew should be taken to task over this."
"It’s just a crop top!! And just a female going to a HOT destination.. she expected to wear a jumper?! Think all women who have flights already booked with @ThomasCookCares should wear one of these tops and the crew should be sacked for this!!" emphasised a third.