stewardesses

Stewardess is a historical term for a female flight attendant, a member of the cabin crew responsible for passenger comfort and safety on commercial aircraft. In the early days of commercial aviation, airlines hired women as stewardesses to perform hospitality duties as well as safety-related tasks. Ellen Church, a nurse, is commonly cited as one of the first female flight attendants, reportedly hired by a predecessor of United Airlines in 1930. The role combined passenger service with safety demonstrations, preflight checks, and assistance during emergencies, and it often carried strict expectations regarding appearance and demeanor.

Over time, the duties of stewardesses expanded to emphasize safety governance alongside service, with crews trained in first aid, evacuation procedures, and communication protocols. The position has historically reflected broader gender norms, including limits on who could be hired and how they could be portrayed in advertising and on board. As aviation labor markets and regulatory frameworks evolved, many airlines adopted more gender-neutral job titles, such as flight attendant or cabin crew, in order to reflect a broader workforce and to standardize roles across genders.

Today, flight attendants operate under aviation safety regulations and airline policies that govern training, in-flight service, passenger safety, and working conditions. While the term stewardess is largely historical and less common in contemporary usage, it remains part of historical reference, literature, and some non-English-speaking contexts where a direct translation is used. The modern equivalent focuses on safety and service as integrated responsibilities of cabin crew members.