Recently someone commented to me that company XYZ was "looking to hire a female pilot"....to which I winced and made a mental note to not consider them in the future. I'd never knowingly take a job because I was the quota-filler.
It took me 3 years as a CFI, 2500 hours, an ATP and 500 ME to get a decent jet gig. People chided me along the way about how it should be easier because of my gender. BS. I'm glad no one gave me any unfair advantage. I can look back an say I paid dues and earned the job based on qualifications and attitude, not politics and aesthetics.
There is a maturing process in aviation, and the things that were all consuming at 450 TT are a yawn at 2000. Occasionally, individuals can juggle more pins earlier and they deserve to get the job based on ability.
Tell your friend to get her CFI/CFII/MEI, tow banners, do surveys, fly traffic, to aerial photography etc while building multi time. Expecting to get anywhere based on her perceived "cuteness" is really an insult to your friend's abilities and personality.
Regardless of gender, everyone works hard climbing the ladder. When people feel they are entitled to skip a few steps, well it sorta pisses off everyone else.
It's like when you are in gridlock traffic and the right land merges...and some joker in a Ferrari zooms down the right lane with his turn signal on, hoping to cut in the front and bypass all the suckers for miles behind. Some doofus impressed with the car always lets them in and the way you feel.....is the way pilots feel when they hear someone (male, female, minority) was given an undeserving break to fill a quota, or based on something other than professional ability.
