Several women have expressed concerns about triggering incidents of being ‘pat down’ in areas like their breasts and groins at regional Queensland airports.
CEO and Diversity and Inclusion Consultant, Felicity Menzies raised the issue on a LinkedIn post yesterday where she wrote about travelling in Gladstone and Mackay where her belt was detected.
“While passing through screening, an alert came up on my belt region in both Gladstone and then in Mackay. In both instances, that led to me be patted down on my groin despite me lifting my shirt to show their was clearly no weapon on me. In both instances, I was asked whether I wanted a private room. To be honest, that was more triggering. NO, I do NOT want to be patted down on my groin in a private room”, she wrote.
Menzies went on to say that she was denied entry into the airport at Mackay, and her bags taken off the conveyer, when she refused to comply with the protocol.
Of course, as Menzies noted, there is “a simple alternative” to invasive pat-downs.
Metal detectors provide a simple way of ensuring safety, without violating women’s bodies.
As Menzies notes, metal detector wands are certainly part of the equation. This limits direct human touch, and lessens the discomfort noted by so many. But so, I suspect, is a greater level of training. Women should be informed of their rights before being subjected to such protocols, including that they’re legally entitled to refuse pat downs in the breast and groin regions.
Source: Australian women raise concerns about feeling unsafe, embarrassed and violated in domestic airports