A girl has sparked a fiery debate about “male privilege” and plane etiquette after calling out a stranger for taking on each armrests on a Qantas flight.
Louise Adler, director of Adelaide Writers’ Week, took to social media to share a controversial image taken from her window seat.
The photo featured a tradie in an aisle seat, confidently claiming each armrests while engrossed in his smartphone.
“Asking for a friend: why do blokes assume they’re entitled to 2 armrests? #CrankyKaren,” she captioned the image.
Adler’s post swiftly attracted an avalanche of comments from fellow female travellers who had encountered similar behaviour.
In a tongue-in-cheek response to the incident, one commenter suggested, “Do as I do, just link arms with him and say very gently … ‘I’ve been waiting for you.’”
One other coined the term “blokespreading” to explain the situation.
They presented an in-depth evaluation with a picture example, declaring it was not only “manspreading” but in addition a more severe case of “blokespreading,” where an extra male body part takes advantage of accessible space to the detriment of nearby occupants.
“They know how you can respect one another’s space, but not women’s,” agreed one commenter.
But contrary to Adler’s assertion the problem was limited to men, some argued that girls and even children were guilty of occupying each armrests.
“I’ve seen men and women use two armrests. Children too. Hope that puts your stereotype to rest,” a commenter quipped.
A big chunk of Adler’s followers took a special stance and accused Adler of being a “Karen.”
“I hope you were offered counselling after this horrific ordeal. Thoughts and prayers,” joked one.
“I don’t know the way you survived,” added one other.
Others suggested the person seated in the center – or aisle seat on a two-person row – was entitled to each armrests.
Quoting Australian comedian Jim Jeffries, one stated, “Window gets an armrest and a wall, middle gets two armrests, aisle gets an armrest and a little bit extra leg.”
In contrast, some argued that armrests were up for grabs.
“I believe it’s first in, best dressed. So either he shoved your arm off it, or he beat you to it,” one observed. Easy as that! Oh wait, you think that he should offer it to you since you’re a lady?”
