The Service Industry
Airlines in China training their stewardess to squat while they serve reported by the Yangcheng Evening News, 13 Sep 2014 had been heavily criticized (see translated version in eNews163). The rationale behind the squat is for the personal touch of seeing the passengers at eye level. In the service industry, coddling the customers goes a long way. Businesses had to be innovative to beat the competition to survive in the keen competition in the service industry.
Sultry Display
Air stewardesses are selected for their beauty so the assumption that they possess a lanky figure would be reasonable. Squatting with their shoulders square to the target, would expose their slender legs if skirts are worn. Protrusion of the breasts would be unavoidable if they need to maintain good posture. These factors would put them in a suggestive posture if the angle is right. With such controversies being thrown on this policy the regular folk would not be comfortable receiving such services.
Other Options
Kneeling would be the next option for the stewardess to be on the same eye level with the passenger. Thighs are not exposed but there are other issues with it. Prostrating before your deity is an acceptable behavior that is universal to all cultures. Only a conceited lunatic, like the monarch, would demand it from another member of the human race. The days of the emperor are long gone from China and making someone kneel to serve is humiliating. People would only go down on their knees when they are in a desperate need to beg for something.
Dignity or Humiliation
The controversies boil down to the issue of dignity or humiliation. Receiving services from someone who were down on their knees in public would make an eccentric billionaire feel a bit embarrass. Kneeling is definitely not a viable option. Imagine straining your neck to look up at a stewardess when you are making your request. Picture her lowering her head out of courtesy in the course of a conversation. She will eventually be hunching her back over you. If she is to keep her posture she would be in a very uncomfortable bow position of more than 45%. Her face will have to be tilted up to maintain eye contact. This would be unsafe for a moving plane. Alternatively, she lowers her ass and her body with it to come into a squat position. It is obvious that the latter is much more comfortable for both parties. At the proper perspective, which is on the plane, she looks cordial and in no way sultry.
My Comments
I like your analysis. I read the hoo-hah reactions on the in Chinese social media/blog. It was all the fuss for nothing.
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