Cultural sexism in the UK airline industry

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine cultural sexism in the UK aviation industry through the experiences women commercial pilots have encountered with their male colleagues and management.

Design/methodology/approach

Interviews were carried out with 20 women commercial airline pilots: 17 women were currently airline pilots, or were previously airline pilots and resigned and three women were flying instructors. There were nine different UK airlines for which the women airline pilots worked.

Findings

Women pilots face cultural sexism where their male colleagues expect them to be different based on their assumptions about women in general but expect their female colleagues to adapt to the current social and cultural system in the UK industry.

Research limitations/implications

Further research is needed to explore ways to combat cultural sexism. Limitations include a focus on UK airlines only, plus the methodology relied upon women who were open to discussing their experiences rather than a random sample of pilots.

Practical implications

Research in this paper highlights how change is needed to produce a more inclusive culture to improve the working culture for women pilots and to appreciate the diversity that women bring to organizations.

Originality/value

This paper provides insights into an under researched area of women's employment and the existence of cultural sexism.

Citation

Neal‐Smith, S. and Cockburn, T. (2009), "Cultural sexism in the UK airline industry", Gender in Management, Vol. 24 No. 1, pp. 32-45. https://doi.org/10.1108/17542410910930734