Selected Writings of Meghan Daum (Part II)

The following is my reflection on the essay "Inside the Tube" from My Misspent Youth by Meghan Daum

Daum approaches this essay in the genre of immersion journalism, entering the world of commercial airline flight attendants. She traces the history of flight attendants of how it was "back in the old days," when all flight attendants were unmarried female nurses of a certain weight, and groomed to look like twins. Back when sex appeal was still a marketing ploy of US Airways. Daum goes on to note that times have changed,

"...because the sex appeal of the flight attendant, like the sex appeal of flying is gone forever." (pg. 73)

Flying once was an altogether luxury experience. However, modern day flight for most of America is more akin to a greyhound bus with wings. The grooming of the fight attendants during training for the job is still very by the book. To do this job, you really have to love the customer service industry as demonstrated by the recent meltdown of a Jet Blue fight attendant covered by the media. It is no surprise that there is a "unofficial passenger shit list compiled on every flight."

You don't have to be an immersion journalist like Daum to know that being a flight attendant is not exactly a walk in the park. One flight attendant expressed to her in an interview, 

"We're doctors, lawyers, travel agents, therapists, waitresses, and cops. No one would demand all of that from a normal person." (pg. 79)

As a result of all the demands that come along with the job description of flight attendant, it is not surprising that they share a camaraderie amongst each other.  In addition to the camaraderie, Daum also notes the presence of a gay subculture. Daum approaches her time spent with the flight attendants in an honest yet humorist manner. Their bond and camaraderie is what helps the flight attendants survive the job and resist the urge to open the emergency hatch and slide down the chute.