Ian MacKinnon in Bangkok
The Guardian
Air stewards in Thailand demanded yesterday that the government pull a steamy new TV soap opera off the air after just three episodes, saying it demeans their profession.
Trade unions representing flight attendants from the national carrier, Thai Airways International, and the private operator Bangkok Airlines are to make a formal complaint to the culture ministry about the show The Air Hostess Wars, the broadcast of which began last week.
The programme shows flight attendants scheming for the affections of a suave married airline captain, who embarks on an affair with one of them.
Actual cabin staff say the love triangle storyline, which leads to fighting in the aisles and passionate sex on stopovers, bears no relation to real life and shows them in a bad light.
"This soap opera is insulting and damaging to the reputation of flight attendants," said Noppadol Thaungthong, a Thai Airways flight attendant leading the union action. "It's all about sex and air hostesses beating each other up in the cabin because of love and jealousy. This kind of thing never happens."
In the protest letter to be sent to the culture minister, Khunying Khaisri Sri-Aroon, the cabin crews argue that the show's viewers may be discouraged from flying because of the damage the drama does to the profession's image.
"People will be afraid to fly with us if they see these scenes with flight attendants slapping each other," said Somsak Srinual, the acting president of the Thai Airways labour union. "Women don't fight. They just argue."
The seething flight attendants also maintained that the soap - with its tales of jealousy, revenge and fisticuffs - would turn off young Thais with aspirations to join the profession.
"My daughter watched the show and has started to look down on my job," said Pichitra Taveerat, a flight attendant. "She asked me: 'Is it true that everyone at your job is fighting over guys?' I didn't know how to answer."
This story is absurd. They should have a soap opera about flight attendants who complain about how they are portrayed in a soap opera.
3 comments:
Of course it could easily have the opposite reaction and lead to an increase in recruits - especially if it's as exciting as it sounds.
....what about all the soaps on Thai tv that portray Isan and Upcountry people as retarded hicks...........or the various portrayals of kathoeys.......or even the dysfunctional hi-so families often shown in various villainous ways.......
....I've always been a fan of politically correct dramas as they are very useful to watch when you are having a hard time going to sleep.......
Air Stewards are... (drumm roll)... waiters on airplane.
What is the specific occupational "reputation" in this context? How about waiters in restaurant? Do they not have "reputation"? Or nurses and daughter of rich hi-so, for that matter.
"She asked me: 'Is it true that everyone at your job is fighting over guys?' I didn't know how to answer."
Because it is true? Simple, just say No and tell her not to believe everything the TV said so.
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