“It’s a man’s world” is the view we’re often given. When you’re growing up female, once the harsh reality of that sentiment really takes hold, it can be discouraging. But in the era we’re living in now, women are waking up to the fact that as a collective, we’ve been kept down. And we’re beginning to take the power back.
It’s a sad fact that too many women have been programmed away from living our lives out loud…doing what we want…flexing our muscles, and our brains too. We’ve been told to be meek…that we’re a supporting character…not the star. But, like stretching out after a long sleep, we’re beginning to take up the space we always should have. Seems we’ve shrunk down long enough.
Pilot Pair Inspires Interest
In March of 2019, Delta Airlines Captain Wendy Rexon and her daughter, First Officer Kelly Rexon, flew together from Los Angeles to Atlanta. The story made headlines for a notable reason: The level of surprise and interest in the all-female mother-daughter flight crew. (1)
On one hand, it’s really wonderful that these women are so visibly contributing to a world where women are finally becoming more able to be and do what they want. But on the other hand, it is surprising and a little disheartening that it’s so noteworthy. Though at this point, women only make up about 7% of the licensed pilots out there. (2) So, the hubbub is understandable too. Thankfully the level of interest in aviation careers is rising, as more women and girls decide for themselves what they want from life.
Wendy has been an airline pilot since long before it was cool for a woman to follow her dreams. Her husband is a pilot too, for American Airlines. Though daughter Kelly is the one making headlines right now because of their high-profile flight together, her other daughter Kate is also a pilot, making aviation the “family business”.
“It is a male-dominated industry, and we get a lot of very positive comments. But every once in a while you’ll get an offhand comment about parking, or girl drivers, and you just laugh and smile and … you just have to have a good sense of humor,” says Kate. (1)
Better Together
When comments like these are so carelessly tossed at them, these women have each other to lean on. Wendy has been a huge source of strength and support to her daughters and has taught them the value of doing what they love with their life, in spite of derogatory comments.
This first mother-daughter flight team will soon be expanding, spanning the globe. When Kate goes international, the trio will make Delta history as the first mother-daughter-daughter international flight crew. (2) Though the exciting parts of this story are about the uniqueness of an all-female flight crew, hopefully, one day the “all-female” part won’t be so exciting. This really shouldn’t be about “girl power”. This is just about power, power. They don’t need to be female to make what they are doing awesome. It just is.
