The Orlando World Center Marriott is an impressively large hotel and convention center in the heart of Florida. Surrounded by golf courses and directly across the highway from Disney World, this half-million square foot facility is a natural go-to destination for industry groups the world over. Everything a guest might need is there, all in one place.
Well, almost everything. The one piddling thing that was missing on my most recent visit brought about a very important insight. When I got past my own discomfort and saw the larger issue for what it was, I chuckled. Yes, I actually chuckled.
Finding humor in the face of adversity often leads to some unique thoughts connecting together.
Because I’m particularly manly and macho and in total denial about my advancing years, I commuted to the Women in Aviation annual conference March 16, 2024, on a motorcycle. It was a gorgeous day. Clear skies, cool temperatures, and maddeningly challenging traffic rewarded me with a worthwhile ride. Albeit, slightly longer than necessary due to the traffic congestion. A problem made worse by the persistent habit so many drivers have of engaging their attention to their cell phones at red lights, causing them to miss the change to green. Which, in turn, causes slow traffic to flow even more slowly.
I miss the days when people had the ability to be alone with their thoughts for three and a half minutes without seeking a distraction to ease their boredom. I really do.
The Marriott is quite large. The signage pointing visitors to the parking garage is not. But, with the help of a benevolent Marriott staffer, I found my way to the parking structure and skedaddled across the fly-way bridge to the main conference hall.
On the way I met a well-dressed young man who identified himself as a pilot and an A&P mechanic. He was cheerfully attending the WAI conference, too. In his case, the attraction was the job interview opportunities. He’s built his time. He’s ready to move into the front seat of an airliner. The WAI conference presented him and hundreds of others with a terrific chance to make that transition happen.
I like that. The WAI conference is not, I say again, not specifically focused on advancing women’s careers to the exclusion of men.
My read of the situation suggests WAI is focused on advancing the industry of aviation in general, while providing opportunity, mentorship, a sense of belonging, and worth to the half of the population that was largely ignored in the past.
Note I use the word “ignored,” not excluded. Women weren’t so much kept out of aviation in the past so much as they were actively disincentivized to participate. That distinction was about to become an entertaining epiphany as my new friend and I rode the escalator down to the lobby where throngs of hopefuls milled about the registration tables.
The concourse at the World Center is long and wide, providing ample space for literally thousands of visitors to congregate. Many hundreds of people were clustered near the registration area, which left me with a decision to make. After a couple cups of coffee before leaving home, and a couple hours in the saddle, my priorities were two-fold. I needed to register to get a name tag and lanyard that would allow me to wander the exhibit hall and break-out sessions freely, but I was also aware that a visit to the restroom would be necessary sooner rather than later.
I chose to knock out the registration part first. Fortunately, WAI had set up a collection of laptops and scanners for the benefit of pre-registered visitors. Having had the foresight to do just that, I was through the registration process and on to the next step in no time.
Success!
The registration area was located in the middle of the concourse. Past experience suggested I’d find a restroom off the main concourse in either direction. A short walk later, I found just what I was looking for. Sort of. The international symbols for men’s and women’s restrooms were clearly visible high up on the wall. But when I turned to enter the Men’s, I was confronted with a sign that read, “Women Only Restroom — Please Do Not Remove.”
Well, I thought, that makes sense. This is a predominantly female event. Thousands of women are converging on this facility while relatively few men are proportionately speaking. It stands to reason the restrooms near the main entrance would be reserved for women.
I walked on. The next men’s room was also off limits. As was the next, and the next.
Uh, oh. This trend wasn’t looking good. Finally, with real purpose, I approached a compassionate Marriott staffer who guided me to a back hallway where a men’s room was available to men.
Ah, life just got better.
As I walked back to the main entrance and exhibit areas, I spotted another man who was exhibiting signs of distress. I provided directions. He appreciated the assist.
This is the exact moment when the epiphany hit.
I have no doubt the restroom restrictions were put in place with the best of intentions. There was no effort or thought to inconvenience or embarrass or exclude men from the event. Yet, the unintended consequence of providing sufficient facilities to one group naturally limited the availability of those facilities to another.
This is how a woman entering aviation at any level may have found the industry treating her in the past. To some extent, they may find this lack of accommodation happening today, as well.
The industry wasn’t overtly telling them to go away. It isn’t pushing them out the door today. However, by making minimal efforts to accommodate the unique needs of women the industry disincentivizes them to push through the barriers to find ultimate success.
That’s an insight worth pondering.
The WAI conference was a rousing success. I’m genuinely glad I was welcomed once again. It’s a wonderful organization populated by remarkable men and women representing a wide spectrum of aeronautical endeavors.
And I got an insight this time around that I genuinely appreciate. Even if the lesson was unintentional, it had real value.
