Sustainable Fashion is Women’s Empowerment
You might think of sustainable fashion as a way to address environmental issues, but what you might not realize is that in steering away from fast fashion, you’re also fighting for women’s rights. The following article attempts to bring to light some of the major disparities that women face in the fashion industry. Let’s get into it:
Of the one in eight workers that are involved in the fashion industry, nearly 80% are female. Although the industry provides a mechanism for women to access economic opportunities, the treatment of women is far from equitable. Women in the industry face the most dire situations compared to men, continuing the cycle of poverty.
In many traditional understandings of gender roles, women are seen as second-class citizens. In the workplace, women are often expected to stay silent and accept decisions from male supervisors. With this stark power hierarchy in place, women are taken advantage of in nearly every aspect of the fashion industry. From workplace harassment to unfair wage distribution, among other inequalities, the fashion industry perpetuates mistreatment of women.
Survey data from Oxfam in 2019 revealed that roughly one fourth of female employees in Bangladesh’s garment industry face workplace harassment in some form. However, very few, if any, of these instances are reported due to fear of retribution by employers. In Indonesia, women report similar threats of losing their jobs if they report harassment. Many employees rely on meager wages to support their families and cannot afford to lose their job. Thus, the workplace becomes a necessary, yet traumatic, experience for women in the industry.
Being a mother amplifies discriminatory practices among female garment workers. Employers often exclusively hire women that do not have children, do not want children, and are not pregnant. These practices can go so far as to force female employees to take regular pregnancy tests. If a worker is pregnant, the employer often creates a physically and mentally challenging workplace for the mother-to-be. These actions are meant both to humiliate the pregnant women and to discourage others from becoming mothers. Women in the garment industry have little to no control over their own bodies because of these extreme discriminatory practices.
Another area of inequality in the fashion industry is financial compensation. As with many industries, there is a large disparity between the wages of men and women. The fashion industry, in particular, is known for having exceptionally low compensation for its female workers, with most women receiving less than 33% of what is needed to support themselves and their families. In addition to having lower wages, women use their incomes to support family members at a higher rate than men in the industry. Women around the world are forced to work for almost nothing, furthering the systemic poverty that female employees in this industry face.
True sustainable fashion goes beyond environmental consciousness to address discrimination against female employees. In order for the industry to improve, women must be empowered and educated on their capabilities. Inequality is a systemic issue that can be changed one brand, one conversation and one woman at a time.
How can you do your part to support sustainable fashion?
Donate your unwanted clothes to Dress for Success Austin or another consignment entity in your area instead of throwing them out.
Ditch fast fashion brands and shop thrifted, vintage or ethically made. Start at Impact Vintage, our collection of curated, non-professional vintage and thrifted community donations. One hundred percent of each purchase goes back to Dress for Success Austin to support our workforce development programs.