Norwegian Boeing 737-800 during landing. Image: 黑料社 stock photo.
A Norwegian airline has come under fire after it required its female staff to wear heels, unless they have a doctor鈥檚 note saying they have to wear flat shoes. They must also carry the doctor鈥檚 note at all times and update it every six months.
Apart from heels, Norwegian Air also required its female crew to wear cosmetics, such as foundation, moisturizer and eye makeup, among others.
The policy was criticized by Norway鈥檚 Socialist Left Party, according to Norwegian newspaper Verdens Gang via The Independent on April 17.听
鈥淚t is almost comical that we face these issues in 2019,鈥� Ingrid Hodnebo, a women鈥檚 spokesperson for the party, was quoted as saying. 鈥淲hile the rest of society has moved on, Norwegian is stuck in the 鈥楳ad Men鈥� universe from the 1950s and 鈥�60s.鈥�
It was also denounced by the Norwegian Labour Party, saying imposing heels and makeup is going too far.
鈥淭he year 1950 rang and it wants its rulebook back,鈥� Anette Trettebergstuen, women鈥檚 spokesperson of the party, said. 鈥淭his is super embarrassing and they should have progressed further.鈥�
Norwegian Air has since clarified in the report that its female employees can wear flat shoes while in the cabin. The airline also said the doctor鈥檚 note was for female shoes worn outside the cabin.
鈥淟ike all global airlines, Norwegian has a comprehensive set of uniform guidelines to ensure that our flying crew represent our brand in a smart and consistent manner,鈥� a spokesperson said. 鈥淭he guidelines were drafted with input from our pilot and cabin crew colleagues and have been well received, sharing many gender commonalities in addition to some specific male and female requirements.鈥澨�
As the airline鈥檚 requirements stand, other airlines have taken a more progressive route. British airline Virgin Atlantic, for one,听has its rule requiring female crew to wear makeup last March. It will also be offering trousers to the crew apart from their usual red skirt uniform. Cody Cepeda/JB
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