Airline Industry Sexism: An Expectant Pilot's Fight for Equality - Essay Sample

Introduction

Galen Sherwin reported that motherhood and work of flight attendants and pilots had been treated as incompatible, a trend that needs to be changed ("Opinion | The Airline Industry's Sexism Problem," 2019). Sherwin narrates about Randi Freyer who was expectant and willingly worked at Frontier Airline as a pilot until the end of her pregnancy. Two months before giving birth, the Frontier grounded her despite her doctor deeming her fit to fly. According to Freyer, Frontier Airlines had provided other workers with interim ground jobs when medical conditions considered them to have a temporal flight. In her case, the Airline had not heeded to her request when she sought for something similar. To cut a long story short, she was forcefully unpaid making her lose income at the time she needed it most.

Is your time best spent reading someone else’s essay? Get a 100% original essay FROM A CERTIFIED WRITER!

Save 25%

The Case of Randi Freyer: Discrimination and Unfair Treatment

Freyer, one of the eight flight attendants and pilots was reported to have filed a lawsuit challenging unethical practices of Frontier Airline that penalize flight officials who are breastfeeding and pregnant ("Opinion | The Airline Industry's Sexism Problem," 2019). Freyer claims that she is happy to represent the courageous women who have defied the odds to speak out to the company that such systemic sexism will not fly.

Apart from Company having a problem with pregnant workers, Freyer discovers that her employer is unsupportive even after returning from unpaid maternity leave. Freyer had to nurse her baby which meant that she required a pump on the job. When Freyer requested the Frontier Airline for a schedule modification to aid in finding to pump instead of an airplane lavatory, the company ignored her request repeatedly ("Opinion | The Airline Industry's Sexism Problem," 2019). For that reason, Freyer grew feverish which exacerbated the pain and rendered a burning sensation in her breast. More surprisingly, she had mastitis which is considered one of the most dangerous situations that need antibiotics.

The situation was immensely worsened when she returned from maternity leave after giving birth to a second child. Instead of the employer of Frontier Airlines ignoring her, the company prevented her from pumping on the job completely. The company clarified to her that she would only pump in the lavatory and not at the flight deck.

Biblical Theory

Based on the biblical perspective, the Bible addresses the spiritual and moral instruction of children in particular and believers in general. The Bible focuses on the value of knowledge especially about God and His works. Notably, the Bible expounds more on the spiritual and moral fruits of God's wisdom by describing its ultimate goal. (Raymond, 2014) The ultimate purpose of Biblical theory is to direct the human development process towards God's purpose for a man. The objectives include a godliness action and character.

Analysis

From this case, Galen Sherwin urges the need to solve problems face pilots and flight attendants, especially motherhood and work. Following Ms. Freyer's incident, there is a need for the employer of Frontier Airline Company to follow the codes of ethics created by the company and national law which is the urges for fair treatment to every employer. In this context, the code of ethics shall ensure that employers abide by the ethical standards created by the frontier Airline.

The employer treatment on Ms. Fryer is based on the biblical perspective of following God and His action should cover the six principles of accountability, transparency, inclusiveness, privacy and security, safety and reliability, and fairness. From these concepts, it can be argued that Frontier Airline Company was unfair to force Ms. Freyer to pump on lavatory instead of deck flight before landing and taking off. Frontier Airline refuses to compensate or pay Ms. Freyer while at maternal leave. The Bible supports that people are wonderfully and fearfully made. Following God and His work require the employer to design an algorithm that avoids the use of bias indicators such as gender to assist women employees at motherhood.

One of the critical principles of ethics is privacy and security. A pregnant woman should not be given hard labor tasks or physical activities that may interfere with their health. From this case, Freyer is forced to work until two months to her due delivery. Therefore, it very imprudent for the Frontier Airline to fail to heed to her request.

Based on the biblical perspective, God does not give his believers what they do not ask for in life. Matt 7:7 that "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you" (Raymond, 2014). In other words, if employers were to emulate God and his work, there is a need to ensure that sites are secure and private to avoid cases of unethical misconduct and biasness.

Inclusivity is a vital ethical principle that extends to believers of God. From this case, refraining Freyer to access some room reveals that other people. There is a need for Freyer Airlines to allow employees to exercise their rights. The Bible recommends in Psalm 139: 14 that "I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful; I know that full well" (Raymond, 2014). If an employer were to the owner the works of God which are wonderful, they would have developed a system where every flight attendant meets given time nurture and breastfeed their babies without being discriminated in any given manner.

Conclusion

In conclusion, ethical problem faced by Frontier Airlines is the treatment of female workers at work and motherhood. Frontier Airlines company should include in its standard rules flexible schedules where the female company is given ample time to raise their babies. The biblical approach of the knowledge of God and His works holds as children and women are works of God.

References

Opinion | The Airline Industry's Sexism Problem. (2019, December 10). The New York Times - Breaking News, World News & Multimedia. https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/10/opinion/pregnancy-discrimination-frontier-airlines.html

Raymond. (2014). The Bible and Environmental Ethics An Introduction to the Earth Bible Project. Journal of Ethics, 1(98), 1-18. https://doi.org/10.15801/je.1.98.201411.1

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) for Essay:

Question: In your essay about the airline industry, what are the key issues being explored?

A: At the center of it all lies motherhood and work in this sector - particularly for flight attendants or pilots who are pregnant or breastfeeding.

Q: Could you explain Randi Freyer and the issues she was encountering?

A: Randi Freyer was subjected to discriminatory and unfair treatment during her pregnancy and maternity leave at Frontier Airlines. Though her doctor deemed her fit for flight, the airline grounded her two months prior to giving birth and refused her request for a modified schedule that could accommodate breastfeeding; forcing her to pump in the lavatory instead of the flight deck.

Q: In what ways is biblical thought relevant to ethical issues discussed in your essay?

A: The biblical perspective emphasizes the value of knowledge about God and His works, as well as spiritual and moral development. Within this essay's scope, this perspective highlights the necessity of treating employees fairly, upholding ethical standards and respecting individual well-being including pregnant workers.