Scoot: Should airlines ban men from sitting next to unaccompanied children?
by Scoot
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posted Aug 15 2012 10:07PM
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8.15.12 scoot@wwl.com - Recently, two different male passengers said they were humiliated when airlines asked them to switch seats with female passengers because they were sitting next to unaccompanied children. Both Qantas and Virgin Australian Airlines have policies allowing flight attendants to have male passengers moved when seated next to an unaccompanied minor.
There is an unfortunate assumption that all men might be pedophiles. While the great majority of pedophiles are indeed men, the presumption of pedophilia tendencies by any man on an airline flight is simply a hysterical reaction. In the United States, no major airlines prohibit men from sitting next to unaccompanied minors, but in most cases, airlines seat children close to the front so flight attendants can keep an eye on them. In 2010, British Airlines changed its policy of banning men from sitting next to unaccompanied children after a lawsuit alleged discrimination.
As a man, I find the action of the Australian airlines appalling. A man hanging out alone in a park or other places where children play could signal the possibility of malicious intent, but the act of being seated on a plane should not be alarming. Since we never know who we will be seated next to on a flight, there is no reason to suspect that a pedophile would or could try to arrange an opportunity to sit next to a child on a flight.
But guys, there is another way to look at this – honestly, wouldn’t it be a blessing to be moved from a seat next to a young child on a flight?
Tags : Topics : Law_CrimeSocial : Law_Crime
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