Women's March 2018 and the Women That Couldn't Attend
On January 20th 2018, one year after the historical female lead protest, post-Trump's inauguration, the Women's March dominated the streets of cities like New York City, San Francisco, Chicago and many more. The marches ignited energy coalescing communities such as women, immigrants, minorities, and others silent in society, proving unity is greater than hate.
Within the United States, diversity has unified in the absence of opportunity to pave solutions for dismay. Though, these environments go beyond the American workplace, classroom and college campus. They travel much farther in quieter communities, like Bangladesh, India and Thailand, where garment workers (80% of whom are women) are not offered basic living wages, safe working conditions and civil union rights.
Everyday women risk their lives to produce goods for a demanding international market. Women sacrifice their health, safety and welfare (not only for themselves, but for their children as well) in order to feed themselves and a hungry industry. Though pioneers within these sisterhoods are perilously standing forward demanding equity and justice, creating a platform for women alike to transform the current system.
So, To the women who support the sisterhood within our community, let's reach outside of our threshold and support our fellow women behind the shoes we wear, the garments we clothe our children and the delicacies we gift for our sisters. We have proven we are resident fighters, supporters, lovers and determined to see moral change; why not take it one step further?
The change begins by understanding our relationships with these women. Through our purchasing decisions, the brands we support, the organizations we stand with that unsure workers civil rights, we start to think deeper about our ability. There are many avenues of awareness, but the first step could be simply shopping differently, demanding more transparency from brands and starting a conversation on how we have the opportunity to use our platforms (social media, publications, blogs, etc.) to catalyze a movement, revealing the unheard.
At Dhana, we continue to advocate for respect and honoring women by giving voice to the women worker. We have partnered with Fair Trade to ensure the women workers behind Dhana are empowered, respected and ensured tangible benefits to improve their lives and community.
WAYS to FIGHT, SUPPORT, and GET INVOLVED:
The True Cost by Andrew Morgan, organically follows the lives of women and men around the world sharing their experiences, knowledge and horrors (some first hand) of how the garment industry within fashion has disrupted our social and environmental global economy.
JOIN the Fashion Revolution and their fight to put an end to the exploitive industry and learn how simple changes we can make have a positive rippling effect for women around the world.
Use YOUR platforms of choice to raise awareness, share stories and reach out to organizations working with the silent defiant ones within the garment industry to ensure their freedom.