Functional Fashion Helps Some Through Airport Checkpoints

[No Mandate Here.]

<http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A53612-2004Dec9.html>

<snip>

Online retailers such as Shoedini.com and Zappos.com have created sections devoted to shoes that will pass through airport security, but the selection for women is small, consisting of Ugg boots, sneakers and sandals.

"Manufacturers need to address the needs of women to get through airports," said Tom Casale, founder of AirportFriendly.com, a Web site that sells travel-related gadgets.

<snip>

Last year, the TSA put on a fashion show at Reagan National Airport with models wearing clothing that would not set off the detector. The woman wore cotton pants with plastic buttons and slip-on shoes. The TSA recommends that women remove all jewelry, even earrings, barrettes and body piercings, before arriving at the checkpoint.

<snip>

...and the last paragraph is the best of all.

Jayne M. Thompson, a Lutheran pastor in Manhattan, Kan., said she was required to undergo a pat-down last week even though she did not set off any alarms. She found the experience so humiliating that the next time she flies, she will try to shame the TSA into recognizing the indecency of its actions. "I'm going to wear my sports bra and my clerical shirt, and if they insist on doing the pat-down, I'm going to take my shirt off," she said.

<end>

Bravo for Ms. Thompson. Women must still endure a lot of crap in the American Taliban world.

[UpInArms]

1. I think just wearing a trenchcoat

and taking it off would probably suit all travelers best.

[KayLaw]

3. You are so right

I may sit around eating cheeseburgers and chain-smoking most of the day, then guzzle beer and speed around in my SUV, weaving through traffic by night, but I'll happily drop my trenchcoat and spreadem' for Security because I don't want to be killed by a terrorist!

[No Mandate Here.]

4. It's a shame that the "decency" Taliban would make a big deal

of actions like that. It would probably make some news if, say a college basketball team or other group of traveling women would all offer to take off their shirts. They would be pilloried, though, but it would make a point. Or, perhaps a group of activists, individually doing this during the holiday travel season. Three or four people each, at a dozen airports or more.

[UpInArms]

8. give 'em something to make a big deal of

this is all bullshit - if the talibornagain wants to rule our country but at the same time let freakin' morons feel women up at the airport - what's wrong with this country???

[Laughing Mirror]

5. Don't forget the scarf and dark glasses

To complete your suspicious ensemble.

[Danmel]

2. I always beep

I have a prosthesis and I always beep. Even with a letter froma doctor, I get the treatment. I only wear sports bras now so nothing above my waist beeps.

The alst time I flew, they dusted me for explosives because of my leg- it was ridiculous- they ONLY dusted my left leg. Now if I were gooing to blow upa plane with my whole family and 150 innocent people aboard why would I care which leg got blown off? I'm so not threatening it's laughable.


They have no idea what they are doing- they make checklists and don't think. fake leg? Check. Must be harboring explosives in there. Where do they get this stuff?????

[booksenkatz]

6. I say we ladies ought to just take it all off, right there on the spot

They want tits? Let 'em have tits, bare naked, right in front of everyone in line. Drop your pants, peel off those panties. Get naked before they have a chance to stop you. They want naked, let's give it to them. Or wear some naughty lingerie underneath: push-up bras with nipple cutouts, crotchless knickers, strap-on dildos. They want a show, let's give it to them. Next time I fly, I'll go braless, and when they take off my shirt, they'll be in for a sweet surprise, as will the other passengers waiting in line. Why be coy? Vaginal and rectal searches will be next. Get used to it. Modesty is so pre-9/11.
:crazy:

[lilymidnite]

7. I got a pretty humiliating pat down

at the Salt Lake airport in July 2003.

I expect the next thing to be 'turn and cough'
E.

[UpInArms]

9. I'm with you - see post #8

eom

[MatrixEscape]

10. Things have changed ...

That's right, people should get over their "pre-9/11" modesty! Privacy is so old-hat and unpatriotic.

If the Emperor has no clothes, why should his subjects? Undress for Democracy! Because: It's the RIGHT thing to do.

[Danmel]

11. Bounce your Boobies

The better to see what you might be hiding in there! ;-)

[MatrixEscape]

12. Breast bombs!

You never know! Instead of silicon, you have plastic explosives and a detonator. Hmm, now where would you put the pusbutton swithc? ;)

"Hey lady, those real? Or are they BOMBS?"

[yorkiemommie1]

13. exactly

and i will eat lots of beans ahead of time!

if they wanna see old lady body, i'll be glad to oblige.

[Lady Sonelle]

15. You Wouldn't By Chance Have Been At the Sunport

in Albuquerque on Nov 29th, would you?

Let's just say they replaced the male Security Officer with a female one and hurried Me through as fast as they could! And I, of course, refused to rush.

HA!

Lady Sonelle

[amazona]

14. I wear a sports bra

I didn't think it would shame anybody, I didn't even think about it. When requested, I just take off the outer layers. But my sports bra is pretty good coverage, it's a deep color, and gives a mono-bosum (no definition) so I assume people think it's a normal spring top under my other layers. Heck, I jog and go out and pick up mail wearing it. I hope I haven't been shaming the neighbors!

I have Ugg boots...didn't know they wouldn't set off the detectors. I take them off and put them through X-ray each time.

I used to consider myself an extremely shy and retiring person but all these "oh woe I'm so embarrassed at the airport" stories make me wonder. How on earth did these women graduate high school with its gym classes? We had to "dress out" in public and we were sensitive teens.

Why is a public pat-down so disturbing? I would be far more disturbed if I'd been "back roomed" for a patdown but this has not occurred, at least not for me.