Kirsty Rogerson, from Wigan, was shocked to discover offensive graffiti on her suitcase after travelling through Manchester Airport on August 11. The words 'get f***ed' were scratched into the shell of her suitcase next to feminist-themed stickers.
Rogerson was returning from a holiday in Rome with her husband to celebrate her 30th birthday and their three-year wedding anniversary. She did not notice the graffiti until she arrived home.
Discovery of the Graffiti
Rogerson told the M.E.N: "At first I thought it was a bit of dirt. Then I thought, that's weird, did I leave it near a friend and they did it as a joke? Then I noticed it was right next to the feminist stickers."
The stickers on her suitcase read 'empowered women empower women', 'the future is female' and 'smart and powerful'. She said she applied them to distinguish her case from her husband's identical model.
Reaction and Response
Rogerson said she has travelled with the case before without issues. "They don't say 'women are better than men, it's just, women are ace," she said. "I cannot believe that, on a flight that was already delayed, someone on shift has taken the time out, grabbed a pen, and really scratched it into the case. What was their motivation in doing that? What would their family say if they knew that they are so against positive messaging?"
Manchester Airport told the M.E.N that airport staff have 'no role' in baggage handling on arrival, but that it is administered by the airline and their appointed ground handlers. Ryanair, whom Rogerson flew with, said handling at Manchester Airport is managed by third-party baggage handler Swissport. Swissport said they were taking the allegation 'extremely seriously' and looking into the matter 'as a priority'.
Impact and Concerns
Rogerson said she felt 'angry, shocked and creeped out' by the incident. "They don't know me. Someone has finished their shift and had a proper good laugh, maybe with a group of mates," she reflected. "It makes you think, they could have opened my case, messed with my stuff, I feel like I have been targeted because of it. Even a suitcase isn't safe from misogyny."
She called for new policy or training on such incidents. "The person behind it should be sacked but there should also be further messaging about it," she said. "Misogyny appears in all forms, whether its a young girl getting stared at or messages like this written on a case, women not being safe in everyday situations."
Rogerson said she initially wanted a new case but now plans to keep the stickers. "I felt a bit uneasy at first and wanted to get a whole new case, but now it makes me want to get even more stickers and get them tattooed on. I'm going to keep them on there, they're class, but it makes me think about who is going to have my case the next time I go on holiday."
A Manchester Airport spokesperson said: "Baggage handling is overseen by airlines and their appointed ground handlers rather than airport staff. Clearly, this sort of attitude does not have any place in society and does not reflect the values of Manchester Airport."
Swissport said: "We take these allegations extremely seriously and are looking into this matter as a priority."
