Emily Brown
A list of requirements given for people hoping to land a job as a cabin crew member in 1954 has gone viral, with each request almost more wild than the last.
And to give you a quick insight as to just how shocking they really are, the first one is 'Single - Not Engaged'. In a happy relationship? Sorry, you just don't make the cut.
The list has been shared far and wide after being posted on Reddit, where it received 35,000 upvotes on the 'interestingasf*ck' page. It was originally created by Chicago and Southern Air Lines (C&S), which no longer exists after it merged with Delta Air Lines.
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Even before we get into the requirements, the title of the document - "Qualifications for Stewardess" - is an indicator of a bygone era. Anyone can work in a cabin as long as they're qualified, but in 1954, the rules were made purely for women.
After kicking off with the aforementioned 'Single - Not Engaged', the other rules were as follows:
We're not done. The list went on:
Needless to say, these kind of requirements wouldn't fly now.
The list has left viewers shocked, with one Reddit user writing: "God, this is so disgusting to me."
Another joked: "This reads like a bunch of dudes sitting around a typewriter with one of them occasionally saying: “oh and don’t forget ______.”"
"I love how literally everything is superficial. All about looks and such," another wrote, adding: "And then, oh ya, 4 year college degree required lmao."
Though the list has gone viral for its bizarre demands, historian and former pilot Dan Bubb, who is also a professor at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, told Newsweek the requirements look 'accurate' for the time.
He explained: "Many young ladies aspired to become flight attendants because it looked glamorous, fun, and they could travel and see the world."
Now, however, Bubb said: "The requirements to become a flight attendant have changed because those original requirements were perceived as discriminatory.
"Flight attendants still must look and dress professionally, and pass rigorous training and tests, but the height and weight restrictions have largely disappeared."