In the 1960s, stewardesses were forced to retire at 32, no matter their skill or experience. When Patt Gibbs and her colleagues publicly challenge the age rule, they confront a culture that values women only while they look young. The fight turns personal when a beloved mentor is quietly pushed aside.

The archive you heard included the commercial “the Air Strip” from Braniff International and a 1963 television address by President John F. Kennedy on civil rights from John F. Kennedy Library Foundation.

The Girlfriends: Flight or Fight is produced by Novel for iHeart Podcasts. For more from Novel, visit https://novel.audio/

You can listen to new episodes of The Girlfriends: Flight or Fight completely ad-free and 1 week early with an iHeart True Crime+ subscription, available exclusively on Apple Podcasts.

SUPPORT ORGANISATIONS

United States

Mental Health

• 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline – call or text 988, or chat online - https://988lifeline.org/ 
• NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) – education, support groups, and helpline: 1-800-950-6264 - https://www.nami.org/ 

United Kingdom

Mental Health 

• Samaritans – 24/7 phone support at 116 123 - https://www.samaritans.org/ 
• Mind – mental health information and support - https://www.mind.org.uk/ 

Australia

Mental Health

• Lifeline Australia – 24/7 crisis support: 13 11 14 - https://www.lifeline.org.au/ 
• Beyond Blue – mental health support and helpline: 1300 22 4636 - https://www.beyondblue.org.au/ 

Canada

Mental Health 

• Talk Suicide Canada – call or text 988 (nationwide) - https://988.ca/ 
• Crisis Services Canada – nationwide crisis support network - https://thelifelinecanada.ca/