In celebration of Women’s History Month, PBS American Experience is presenting an encore of the documentary Fly With Me, which explores the history of flight attendants. It will air on Tuesday, March 18, at 9 PM ET. Check your local PBS station for broadcast times in your area. Featured in the documentary are American Airlines Flight Attendants Dusty Roads and Jean Montague, along with Elaine Rock, the author of the biography Dusty Roads: Meet the Hidden Figure Who Really Ignited the Women’s Movement. 

In the 1950s and 1960s, becoming a stewardess, later known as a flight attendant, was one of the few ways young, single women could experience adventure and independence. But beneath the allure of jet-setting glamour lay a rigid set of rules that dictated their careers—and their lives. Stewardesses could be fired for getting married, turning 32, or gaining weight. They endured humiliating weigh-ins, mandatory girdles with “flick checks” to ensure compliance, and were paid less than their male counterparts.

In 1953, one woman refused to accept the status quo. Dusty Roads, a stewardess for American Airlines, became a fierce advocate for her peers, challenging these discriminatory policies head-on. As a union leader, she fought tirelessly for fair treatment and equality in the airline industry. Her efforts propelled her to Capitol Hill, where she became one of the first female union lobbyists to Congress, pushing for legislative change.

Her landmark battle against American Airlines and airline industry-wide policies led to a groundbreaking moment in history—Dusty filed the first-ever sex discrimination complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) after the passage of the Civil Rights Act and Title VII. She took to the frontlines of the fight for gender equality, reshaping workplace norms and paving the way for future generations.

Dusty’s story, along with those of other brave stewardesses who confronted these injustices, is highlighted in this enlightening PBS program—a must-watch for anyone interested in the untold history of the women’s movement and the struggle for workplace rights.

See the trailer at: Fly With Me: Trailer or stream it on their website at the PBS website or the PBS App.