Big-busted woman ends up in standoff with TSA over bra

ahahahah thats a good one

Gnostix1 - nice pun !!

o.o
__

Personally, I think spell check is one of the 20th century's best inventions.

Wow, what a sexist comment! And no, it's not funny. I can assure you that NO, no woman like being invaded like that!

Wait a minute ,you telling me women don't like sex???

Jimi, that was an inappropriate comment. What are you, 12?

Actually, it reminds me of the time I was called for jury duty. Trying to play it smart, I made sure to wear nothing with metal (sports bra, slip on shoes, etc) and one piece dresses the entire time. I even put my jewelry aside for the week.

The real kicker is that I STILL kept setting off the alarm every time I went through it at the door.

It seems that the metal clip that was on the badge that they gave me was enough to do it all on it's own. I remember after the third day wondering aloud why on earth they had it so sensitive and someone else who was being patted down at the time answered:

"I think it's because if it goes off they have to check you and if it goes off for everyone, that means that everyone gets searched."

I wondered then, and I still wonder today whether or not that man was right.

Well, if there was a man and he was a hottie, I might not protest as much at being "felt up." Little Jimi has got a point there.

What Jimi doesn't seem to get, is the difference between something consensual and something invasive and unwanted.

Years ago, at a music event, there was a security team hired that went far beyond the boundaries of consent. Admittedly, these are different circumstances, but think on this for a minute.

There was an all-male security team searching women (which is not legal, by the way), one of whom did the patdown-under-the-breasts routine on a friend of mine. Unfortunately, she was one of many women who have dealt with sexual abuse in her lifetime, and this illegal search triggered a serious anxiety attack and memories of that abuse. She was sent spiralling into a pretty dark place.

Add to that that I have had two girlfriends who were abused by WOMEN in their youth, so just because it is a woman doing the invasive searching, doesn't mean it's any less impacting.

Even if you take out these kinds of drastic instances, this is INVASIVE. I realize that women could carry things in their bras, but since it is NOT out of the ordinary to have an underwire, these things need to be considered and understood.

I am rambling a bit here (coffee still kicking in), but the overall point is this: just how far are we going to go with this? We hear new stories all the time, from a woman with nipple piercings being asked to remove them before flying, to a woman with underwire being searched, to new scanners that show a full physical picture of people in their birthday suit. How much privacy and dignity are we supposed to lose before we are "safe"? The answer is: we have lost far too much already.

Oh and p.s. I am a lesbian who has endured patdowns by female TSA agents who were attractive, and I can honestly say it wasn't any less uncomfortable, embarrassing, or invasive. All those people who seem to think an attractive member of whichever gender they prefer patting them down would be great...there is NO time (IMO) where an nonconsensual, unwanted invasion of your body is fun or ok.

And for those who would argue that knowing the security measures, and taking a plane anyway is consent: um no. Taking a plane out of necessity does not negate my right to my own personal space, and I am not giving consent by virtue of doing what I have to do to get across this ridiculously large continent for work.

*sigh* glad I don't fly much.

Awwww! C'mon guys let's give Jimi a break. I took that as a lighthearted comment, nothing malicious OR sexist. Geeeeez. I wish there was a better way to convey inflection through text...

Allen Girl - how can you speak for all women ?

Another over priviledged woman who thinks she is above the rules.

She thinks she doesn't want some goon with the TSA feeling of her boobs.

Rennurfast, NO, when a TSA agent isn't doing their job "properly," they should be held accountable. A pat down and "feeling someone's breast," are two very different things.

I've been patted down by a TSA agent before, got pulled aside at random, and it was "very" professionally done. I did not feel uncomfortable at all. If the detector (the wand) used is going off in the bra area, then one would imagine the agent would have patted 'UNDER' the breast area, not cop a feel!

It appears, this TSA agent needs better training.

The TSA agent obviously exceeded his authority and the bounds of decency. Simple case, game over, sorry you wasted your time spewing nonsense.

She arguing against people trying to do their job, thats my disagreement. You go to the airport you have an expectation of what you need to do and act. Get over it.

Hate to burst your bubble, but I have a friend who worked for the TSA. Some of the things they do go beyond what they are supposed to be doing. For example, purposely calling for a bag check because they noticed a sex toy in someone's bag and they thought it would be funny. It is a waste of our time and money and does not serve the purpose for which they are there in the first place.

She arguing against people trying to do their job, thats my disagreement.

NO, she's arguing against being felt up by some chump with the TSA.

TSA has done an extraordinary job in keeping our skies safe

I have always been treated fine by the TSA employees, however regarding safety, I and many others believe this is all "security theater" and the reason there have been no attacks on airliners is due to two things: reinforcing cockpit doors, and the fact that everyone now knows that there's no good end to a guy threatening mayhem on a plane, so there's no downside to attacking them.

All the "little bottles" and related mantras are useless -- chemists have proven that there's no binary components that can create violent explosions, etc., but we (the global "we", not to pick on the TSA) jump through hoops anyway about liquids on planes. One idiot tries to put explosives in his shoe, and now for years we all pad around in our sox. Nuts.

I do fully agree with you that there are always the bad apples, they just need to be pruned.

What's the passenger gonna do when she gets on the plane? Whip off her bra and beat the flight attendants to death??? ;)

Sounds like a female assasin that should be in a James Bond movie. Like Chesty Garrotte or something.

Although, with the attitude that some of these flight attendants seem to be throwing around, could you blame her if she did?

CurrentResident, Yeah .... that was just a little pent up anger that needed to be vented. More importantly, my question is, "How many women would not like to whip off our underwire bras and whip some of these flight attendants to death, huh?" LOL!!!

Sandra,

I would pay extra to see that. :)

puuuuuurrrrrrrrrr .........

I think you have your priorities inverted.

No, JimiM, there are "good" employees, and there are "bad" employees -- no matter what occupation you happen to work in. It's not an overreaction when a TSA agent goes "too far" from their training; to conduct a search in an "inappropriate" manner. I believe the passenger was "justified" in being upset about how she was handled by this agent. And, TSA, as in any organization, should hold their employees accountable when they go too far.

We have "rights" too. That's what is important to remember.

I doubt you would be saying 'grin and bear it' if they subjected you to a body cavity search.

When you get sick that kind stuff really doesn't bother you anymore. I Am There.
So the World is sick so just get used to it.
We are there.

Suprised at what they find in the bags; NOT a bra.

Riiiiight - like water. You can't bring it through security, but once you're on the other side of the gates, you will have your selection of a single overpriced brand of bra in a single color in a vending machine.

I travel often and have had a similar experience.

The wand was stuck w/ full beeps on my bra(red face, oh god you must be kidding me, GULP!). I consented to the the 'pat down' which was explained fully to me prior to anyone touching me. I get over stuff easy but one potentially major issue if it was this woman instead of me......pat down was conducted by a MALE employee, not one female available at the time. I don't think my rights were violated, but it wasn't as much fun as JimiM might think;-)

The post 9/11 security measure may be a pain but it is better than the alternative our fellow Americans endured on that tragic day(and many will continue to endure for a lifetime). The TSA agent did it with the back of his hands and yes, his hands were in places generally reserved for precious few but I didn't feel he did anything wrong... was just doing his job. If she feels as though he gave her a grope then that is a different story -but that is not what I got from the story.

Barb, thanks for sharing. I think your experience was really "tougher" in that it was a "male" TSA agent, as opposed to a "female" who was patting you down. I do applaud the TSA agent in this case because he "communicated" to you appropriately.

I just believe some of these agents could use a good dose of humility in some cases, and a little bit better training. Better communication is key.

I agree with you in part. But to play devil's advocate.......What if that woman had something hidden with the intent of harming people? If YOU were on that particular plane I'm sure you'd be screaming how the TSA isn't doing their job. How can any of you say that what the TSA did was wrong? These people are put under ridiculous stress simply because terrorists look just like anyone else.

Ok... good point.

Yes... it does put the mind "into a whirl." There are so many things happening these days. But, for the moment, then...

WHAT would the solution be?

Is there another way?

There has to be another way.

What is it?

I, too, am at a loss here...

That is why they are now starting to implement THIS And to be honest, I am not sure how I feel about that

Kavatica - Thanks for the 411. I have heard about this but had not seen anything recently and was wondering when these might be in place. Ya, sure it is not on the internet -until some wack job takes a pic w/ his camera phone and puts it there! Ya and sure it is deleted once the passenger is determined not to be a threat. Well, if it works what can we say... but it scares me to be that exposed. I'd actually prefer the pat down!

Kavatic, thanks for the pointer to THIS, and THIS goes wayyyyy TOO FAR! ;) Gosh, I got into one of those before, and it blows air onto your body, and they say its to detect explosives; however, I didn't know I was posing for PLAYTSA!!! Gosh, I won't ever do that one again! How naive was I?

Sandra, I think the machine you were in is different from the one Kavatica's link was discussing. I was in the machine you are speaking of in Providence Airport. I believe I was told it was not an imaging machine....

The machine was a tall cylindrical tube that blows puffs of air up and down your body. It's at the Pittsburgh airport. I do hope it wasn't what Kavatica was talking about because I wouldn't be comfortable exposing myself like that. Funny, though, my husband was standing right behind me, and they didn't motion for him to come get in the darn thing! ;) I'm with you, Barb, I would prefer the pat down over the "THING"!

The "thing" with puffs of air is designed to detect explosives. It can "sniff out" explosives in PP billion. That is what that is.

Hal, thanks for the explanation!

Yup, different machine. I saw the one in Baltimore the last time I went home, and they were supposed to be putting one in at O'Hare. Whoopee! The article I read had said that you could opt to either have a "pat down" or go through the imaging machine

Kavatica, well that's one EZ answer for me - pat me down, thank you very much!!! ;)

Hey, if a TSA agent wants to cop a feel on me, go right ahead. That'll be their karmic debt, that's the way I look at it. Wonder what they'd say if you looked at them and said, "That was just wonderful! Can I feel yours now?"

I think I would have to agree. I think the visual would be worse and feel more invasive than a pat down. Knowing that they can see EVERYTHING while you are standing there, and then having to walk out and face the people, I would be mortified.

just like life I tell ya... just like real life... too much! Point taken

didn't everyone read that since it was accessible from the blog post?

I see now, thanks for the clarity:-)

If you're going to make such a statement, Jimmy James, why not go ahead and make real sentences? They grabbed my balls (Period - or Exclamation Point) I felt violated (Period - or Exclamation Point)

They! Grabbed? My. Balls! I. Felt! Violated?

Ok - thanks for the chuckles. :)

@ Annoyed-373400 Would you believe that a male passenger had any grounds to be upset if a male TSA agent did a very thorough "pat down" search of their groin?

There's doing your job, and then there's abusing your position of authority over others. Big difference between the two.

I was just trying to correct the people thinking this was a male fondling a female.

Now on to your question. Personally, if I had a situation where I was wearing underwear that happened to be lined with metal and a TSA pulled me aside to check why, I would not have a problem. I'd be a bit uncomfortable with it, but you need to look at the bigger picture. It's about safety. Granted, there will be some schmucks out there who abuse their power to search people. You can't really avoid that, though.

The whole story is here in the SF Chronicle, which notes:

Kates asked to see a supervisor and then the supervisor's supervisor. He told her that underwire bras were the leading item that set off the metal detectors, Kates said.

If that's the case, Kates said, the equipment must be overly sensitive. And if the TSA is engaging in extra brassiere scrutiny, then other women are suffering similar humiliation, Kates thought.

The Constitution bars unreasonable searches and seizures, Kates reminded the TSA supervisor, and scrutinizing a woman's brassiere is surely unreasonable, she said.

The supervisor told her she had the choice of submitting to a pat-down in a private room or not flying. Kates offered a third alternative, to take off her bra and try again, which the TSA accepted.

It's stories like this that made me give up on trying to fake news. How can I compete with this?

weakly world news?

It contains the weak stories?

And that is why they are "weak" for the "weakly world news." Got it.

No, a pun is just a pun. the checkoutcounter WWN is defunct, sad to say. Batboy, anyone?