China’s ‘Air Aunties’ spark debate

China’s Spring Airlines has sparked online backlash after announcing plans to recruit married women and mothers as flight attendants, calling them “air aunties.” The Shanghai-based budget carrier said the move aims to create more job opportunities for women with “life experience and empathy,” adding that duties and pay are the same as other attendants. Applicants aged 25 to 40, preferably married or with children, are being considered for positions in Shanghai and Lanzhou. The term “air aunties,” which dates back to the 1990s when laid-off textile workers joined the industry, drew criticism for being disrespectful and reinforcing gender stereotypes. The…

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