Then you're old enough to remember that hot pants were the signature clothing item for the flight attendants on the then-new Southwest Airlines. Then somebody decided that being an FA was a "career" as they aged through maternity and right out of the previous uniforms. Along the way, the "light in the loafers" crowd determined being an FA was a way to broaden their horizons. Throw in the "bus with wings" atmosphere along with a TSA "group grope" and the whole experience has gone in the toilet.
Gaëtan Dugas.
Flew Continental years ago. The male FA wore a wedding band; I asked him was he away from his wife a lot. He replied,
“I’m not married.” (Major oh s*** moment, I thought)
I pointed to his ring and he said “Oh, that’s my `fag deflector’! Lots of fags work in the airlines nowadays so I wear this to keep ‘em at bay. My girlfriend wants me to make it for real!”
(Major whew! moment)