Nicole Finkbiner

                        

I’m going on vacation next week and as much as I’m dreading the six hour flight and having to deal with airport security, I haven’t given much thought to the possible embarrassment I might endure should I be randomly selected to go through an x-ray scanner. 

Guess I better remember to pack some pasties!

Made of the “highest quality of rubber,” Flying Pasties are “designed to obscure the most private parts of the human body when entering full body airport scanners” (see promotional video below). 

According to the FAQ on their Web site, the pasties can be applied two ways: right on your nips and vadge or with a hook inside or outside your undergarments. Either way, the company assures that they’re easy to remove.

“Whenever your airport screener questions you about your Flying Pasties, simply remove them and present it to them,” a company spokesperson states. “The security personnel are there for your protection and we mustn't forget that."

Call me crazy, but as much as I'd prefer not to have strangers see me naked, having to reach into my underwear, pull off these pasties, then hand them to a stranger doesn't sound like a much better alternative. 

Currently there are four generic designs available on their Web site starting at $16.99, including one that reads: “Only my boyfriend sees me naked.” New styles will be arriving daily. 

So how exactly do these ever-so stylish rubber pasties block x-rays? 

Ummm...that’s not really explained. Though, the company does warn customers that they don’t protect you from “the strong forces of radiation” full body scanners emit. 

Ok terrorists, you've won. 

I’m curious, are there any ladies out there who feel like these airport x-ray machines are a huge invasion of privacy? Would any of you actually wear these pasties? 

 

[Image: FlyingPasties.com]

Tagged in: vaginas , General , Funny , Breasts   

The opinions expressed on the BUST blog are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the position of BUST Magazine or its staff.


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written by Ms. Wizzle, July 20, 2010
I live in Utah so I've gone through the full body scanner in SLC a few times. And didn't think much about it.

But, I'm upper-middle class, white, cis, and usually traveling with my male partner, so I don't usually feel like I have much to worry about.

When I stop and think about it though, I'm lucky and quite possibly rare. I'm not a part of a religion that would shame me for exposing my body. I'm not part of a targeted (ethnic, sexual, or other) minority that might have good reason to fear that level of exposure to authorities. And what shows up on the X-ray matches my experience of my gender.

So. Did I feel like my privacy was invaded? No. But I was privileged enough not to think about it. Now that I've thought about it, those scanners are pretty damn problematic.
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written by kaytoil, July 20, 2010
Do we have to wax our va-jay-jay too?
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written by Emry, July 21, 2010
This past January I was at the Denver airport when a security guard picked me out from the line to go through the scanner. I did as he asked, and was scanned. He then motioned for me to step out, but stopped me and asked if I was wearing perfume. I was very confused by this question, but assumed it pertained to homeland security. Boy, was I wrong.

I informed him I was NOT wearing perfume, (I'm allergic.) but he kept pressing for me to tell him what it was. He then pulled out his walkie talkie and said, "Yeah...brown sweater....Thanks." (I was wearing a brown sweater.) He once again asked me about my perfume. I gave the same answer, and he said, "Hmm...Well you smell really great." Then he dismissed me. This had gone on for well over a minute.

At the time I didn't know what the body scanners did in full detail. It has since occurred to me that that man may have had his buddy upstairs save my image. I can only hope this wasn't the case. I feel extremely violated. He used his authority over me to ask about my perfume right after I had been scanned.

I wish I could go back and report this man. In the future I will refuse to be scanned.
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written by juvu, July 22, 2010
Let them see i say !
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written by Denise B., July 22, 2010
I think this and many other things are definitely an invasion of privacy. None of this will deter someone from doing what they set out to do--they'll definitely find a way. This is more to do with controlling us rather than keeping us safe.
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written by bbesq, July 22, 2010
I am very concerned about our constantly-surveilled society, but honestly I couldn't possibly give less of a shit if some airport security person sees that I have no explosives stashed up my vag, but I do have medium tits. Does anyone think that as women we aren't being constantly scrutinized and judged on every minute aspect of our appearance every day for much less valid reasons? Everyone, man or woman, goes through a metal detector every time they fly, and who cares - this will soon become no less onerous.
I do find something in this vid troubling as a female feminist - did anyone else get a little squicked out when the pitchman was talking about (and I'm paraphrasing) "Your wife, girlfriend, daughter and YOU won't lose your dignity"...? That's what I personally found disturbing. I respect women who choose to wear a veil, etc because of their faith and BY THEIR CHOICE. But this vid just reminded me that too often women are treated as chattel (property) that (or more properly, who) because of their behavior or appearance may be seen as reflecting badly upon the man (father or husband) who now "owns" them. Think about who this is REALLY being marketed to.
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written by patty deville, July 22, 2010
You do realize that no body parts are visible and only a non-gender specific outline shows on the scan! Rubber doesn't block anything but I am sure they appreciate your money! This is a money making scam designed to take advantage of persons incapable of thinking rationally or doing simple research into the scanner issue.

The perfume question? The machine that costs hundreds of thousands of dollars was probably not working or they were checking a "no-fly" list.
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written by Spork Fashion, July 22, 2010
I would be more inclined to wear these things purely to annoy airport "security"
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written by midge, July 22, 2010
last time i went through one of these, i had my period, so i definitely had a tampon in. i also have an IUD. and since they were typical-looking (making assumptions here) guys, i'm sure the tampon thing put them off their lunch. congrats guys; hope that tampon and copper t-bar viewing helped stopped "terrorism." maybe i should just wear a tampon every time i go to the airport for the giggles.
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written by monika913, July 22, 2010
I'm more concerned about the health effects of these scanners than who is seeing me naked. plus, why are these only marketed towards women? i'm not seeing flyingjockstrap.com to protect men...
i just see this as another money making ploy that's targeting the wrong issue.
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written by Edward Flynn, July 22, 2010
Losing your privacy is the least of your worries when you step into a body scanner. If you are in it for anything over 5 seconds you get the equivalent of a chest Xray in radiation. So that means when you fly you get dosed once by the scanner and if you fly across country and fly above 35K feet you get enough radiation equal to another chest xray. Then of course on your return trip you get yet two more doses of rads. These are little known facts that nobody mentions. The body scanner were steamrolled out without thorough safety testing. And why is that you say? becuase Michael Chertoff who was the head of the DHS IS A MAJOR STOCK HOLDER in the company that makes these scanners. Do yourself a healthy favor and tell the TSA you are opting out of the body scanner and go for the pat down instead. Otherwise if you're a frequent flyer you might start to wonder why your hair is falling out and why you glow at night. Flying pasties isn't going to help that.
cheri allen
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written by cameragirl, July 22, 2010
I could care less if security sees a body,or bones or an x-ray. What bothers me is being dosed with radiation and jeopardizing my health against my will! Only a lead apron blocks radiation.
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written by Really!?, July 22, 2010
Why has no one bothered to point out the unrealistic photo from the ad?! I could give two shits about TSA, cuz fuck it, if I gotta fly...I gotta fly...but there ain't a single set of real titties in the world at can hold cleavage like that with out a bra. Excellent Photoshop skills, poor feminism. Flying Pasties, your scam is funny, but I hope you get strip searched.
Alex English
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written by Alex English, July 23, 2010
I'm never going to buy pasties from someone with curtains THAT BAD! What was he thinking?
I'm with monika913 - what about the guys?
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written by sickgirl, July 23, 2010
I was somehow born without modesty and honestly don't give a crap whether or not someone sees me naked (the people who accidentally see you naked are usually way more embarrassed than you are anyway), much less a vague outline of my ladybits. I am, however, quite concerned about the radiation exposure as well.
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written by Priorities while traveling? Anyone?, July 23, 2010
I traveled alone to Iceland from the states this summer. I'm a 21 yr old female, traveling alone abroad. The embarrassment, or potential exposure to rays on a scanner was not even a consideration, the thought didn't cross my mind. Honestly, I think this is ridiculous. This isn't necessary or really even noteworthy, this is just a product made for a culture of excess. I don't think that embarrassment is justified, it's really not that big of a deal. If you're a woman traveling alone and THIS is something you think about, maybe you should stay home. If you think your body is really that big of a deal to a bunch of jetlagged people, you should probably realize IT'S NOT A ALL ABOUT YOU. Oh, and the chances of this being an issue are pretty slim to none. I'm a minority who has been randomly selected and guess what? My "girly bits" were not what I was upset about...
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written by lizzy, July 23, 2010
Just to clarify, while these are predominantly marketed toward women, the website DOES offer these for men as well. They look like the women's "bottom" protectors, but larger.

My issue (other than this seems like it is questionable that these would even work), is the way these are marketed. First, all of their models are "hot" women with gravity-defying breasts. Second, the products themselves are soooo heteronormative, it's ridiculous. For women, they offer the "Only my husband/boyfriend sees me naked" designs, while men get the "Only my wife/girlfriend sees me naked" styles. One can also purchase these styles as male/female sets. I guess as they say, "The couple that gets duped together ..." - you know the rest.
bjorn Roche
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written by bjorn Roche, July 23, 2010
Say what you will about airport security, but this product is laughable. Among other things, the sample scanner photo on his site is a well-known fake.

http://www.chicktellectual.com/content/flying-pasties-or-flying-bunk
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written by Rin, July 23, 2010
This product is totally playing up people's irrational fears. There is so much misinformation about this. First, the 'radiation' of these machines is so low as to be completely negligible The scanners don't show Playboy-like details, so the pasties aren't going to cover anything (even if the rubber works, which we can't be sure). Moreover, we're assuming every one who checks the scanners is a male who's ooking to get his jollies off by looking at the screen. After about 3 hours of these very basic scans, I seriously doubt anyone would be harboring lewd thoughts. It's just a daily task.
Now, the perfume comment someone got- that's just someone taking advantage of the system, which could happen, scanners or no. (And how creepy! Yikes!)

BUT, as Wizzie pointed out, just a simple body image could be offensive to people of certain religions, so I think that's valid.
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written by Laura T, July 24, 2010
To Priorities while traveling: TESTIFY! I am a woman who's also traveled alone and this stuff never occurred to me. I traveled to Portugal alone a few years ago and the only thing I was worried about were delays and getting by on my fractured Portuguese speaking skills once I hit the airport in Lisbon.

Oh, and occasionally I worry about plane crashes, especially when there's heavy turbulence.
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written by Genevieve Young, August 03, 2010
I would be very embarrassed to go through a scanner. And I don't think it helps that the person who sees the image is physically removed. At least if they're right there in front of you, they have to be somewhat professional. Security screeners are not payed a lot, and while I'm sure most are good people trying to do their jobs, there are definitely some that are not. I am pretty modest and don't like having to take off my belt in front of people, either. If I got chosen to go through the scanner, I think I would ask to be patted down by a female screener.
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written by Genevieve Y., August 03, 2010
By the way, if you are concerned about it, you can check out the TSA's website. Everyone does have the option to get patted down instead of going through the scanners. FYI, they can't see your bones, tampons, or IUDs but they can see a very detailed image of your body. They're supposed to have technology to blur the genitals but that's not much comfort to me.

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