“maternal wall” phenomena, whereas the latter refers to the “glass
ceiling” phenomenon. 42 These two phenomena have long existed
and are difficult to break in the cabin crew profession. In fact, it
was only in recent years that some airlines began to hire a small
number of male cabin crew. The gender ratio among cabin crew in
Taiwanese airlines shows a stark disparity; i.e., there is marked
gender-based occupational segregation (Tables 1 and 2, p. 13).
Employers and companies in the workplace are, to a certain
extent and within reasonable limits, entitled to establish dress
codes based on the characteristics of their businesses. However,
under the provisions of the Constitution of the Republic of China
(Taiwan) and the Gender Equality in Employment Act, such dress
codes should not reinforce gender stereotypes. Data compiled by
the Civil Aviation Administration indicates that while
approximately 40% of airlines in the Asian region and nearly
100% of airlines in the European, American, New Zealand, and
Australian regions offer both skirt and trouser uniforms, only
roughly 17% of Taiwanese airlines offer trouser uniforms. This is
a significant gap.43 A general observation of the dress codes of
Taiwanese airlines reveals that the gender stereotype of “women
should dress like women and men should dress like men,” dictates
the attire and appearance of cabin crew. Gender stereotypes are
both a cause and a consequence; this adverse outcome has a
profound impact on women, deepening gender-based occupational
segregation among cabin crew in the aviation industry and
forming what the CEDAW Committee concept note refers to as a
“self-reinforcing cycle.”
M.C., Liu (2019) “The Lingering Ghost of Patriarchy in the Workplace—The Impact
of and Strategies Against Gender Stereotypes.” Gender Equality Committee,
Executive Yuan website: Gender Notes.
43
Minutes of the Civil Aviation Administration, Ministry of Transportation and
Communications discussion meeting on the work attire and uniforms of female
cabin crew to uphold the spirit of the United Nations’ Convention on the
Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) recorded on
January 4, 2024.
42
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