During my
lunch break today, I stumbled across an article I found online about the
experiences of flying for a plus-size woman. Initially I was drawn to
it because I am a total contradiction when it comes to flying. I absolutely
hate it but am fascinated by it at the same time (when I'm on the ground, that
is!) so when I saw this piece, many questions entered my head. What followed
next, I hadn't expected.
Opening up
the article, I overlooked the introduction as my eye caught sight of a thread
of tweets by a lady on twitter who goes by the name @yrfatfriend detailing an experience she had with a
fellow passenger on a flight, and the preparation she goes through before even
booking a plane ticket.
From
researching airline policies on sizes of customers and purchasing two seats for
herself to taking her own seat belt extenders so she can save on the
embarrassment of asking the flight attendant for one, I immediately felt my
heart breaking for her, but it didn't stop there. She continued to explain
how she is made to feel when on a plane:
"As a
very fat person on a plane, I am treated like luggage--a cumbersome,
exasperating, inconvenience. Inanimate & unfeeling."
I felt
angry. Who on this earth has the right to make another person feel
this way? She is no different to the rest of us so why is she being
subjected to such appalling behaviour? Just because she carries more
weight than others? No, this is unacceptable.
She
continued to recall the first time someone made a complaint against her.
She was on an overbooked flight and moved to a middle seat next to man who
made no attempt to engage with her other than to say "this is for your comfort.
It'll be better for both of us" after
he'd taken the time to complain about her to the flight attendant. W***er
sprung to my mind when I read that, quickly followed by tears when she continued
to express how that made her feel:
"I
spent the rest of the flight with my arms & legs crossed. Humiliated and
alone. No one spoke to me or made eye contact."
My heart
broke once more and completely shattered when she concluded this encounter when
the man spoke to her at the end of the flight:
"I
wouldn't do that to someone who was pregnant or in a wheelchair" he said.
"I know," I said "That's what makes this so awful."
This
terrible experience stopped the woman from flying for a year and a half. A year and a half! Again, not acceptable. She refused to travel
for work and missed out on quality time with her family, all because of some
ignorant arsehole who felt it was his duty to body shame someone.
Although
she is now flying again, and very much refusing to let people get to her, I
can't help but think this battle is one she will continue to fight:
"I fly
because my life is my own, and others' preconceptions of me & my body won't
control it. But they can make it much, much harder."
In a world
where we are faced with so much hatred, one of the things that restores my
faith in humanity is the way in which we pull together in times when it was
needed. Where was her support? We shouldn't need a disaster to happen to look
out for people. We should ALWAYS be looking out for one another. Why didn't
anyone stick up for her or confront the man for his offensive behavior?
We need
to spend less time judging and more time supporting one another, which is
why I have written this blog. @yrfatfriend,
I don't know you and you don't know me, but please know this; there are people out there who will stick up for
you and support you. There are people who will not judge and there are people who will fight back when you
can't find the strength to do it on your own. As you mentioned in your
thread, I hope you continue to progress and shine within your career
and enjoy every moment you have with your niece and nephew. As an aunty myself,
I know how important these moments are and I would hate for anyone to stop me
from seeing them because of a nasty comment.
Continue to
be you and don't let the weak minded bring you down.
To read the
full article, click here.
