W-O-M-E-N rock - it's true! Let's Build a Gender Equal World

Let's Build a Gender Equal World Gender equality is essential for economies and communities to thrive. #EachforEqual  This Sunday, March 8 is International Women's Day. In celebration we will be featuring stories from some incredible women workers at Fair Trade Certified businesses around the world who make your clothes, farm your fruit, grow your coffee beans, and more. By choosing to support Fair Trade USA by making a donation or in your everyday purchases you support women. At Fair Trade USA, we've championed workplace gender equity and sustainable business practices since our founding. Our rigorous operating standards, Fair Trade Committee structures, and Community Development Funds have given women across the globe a voice and a vote since day one, empowering them to establish income stability while improving the lives of their families and protecting the environment. Today, we want to highlight the women of the Fair Trade Certified Apparel and Home Goods program. Why? Because 75% of workers in the global apparel business are women - not surprising, but still shocking - and these women need to be protected, supported and given equal opportunities at work. The good news is that if they work at a Fair Trade Certified factory, they are.  Women Get A Voice and a Vote When a factory, farm or fishery decides to become Fair Trade Certified™, we work closely with them to implement a series of business practices and standards that give workers a safe, equitable place to work, the ability to build sustainable livelihoods with a fair wage, and a way to earn additional money to empower and uplift their families, all while protecting the environment. Part of Fair Trade USA's gender equity structure demands that there is proportional representation of men and women on the Fair Trade Committee. So, if the workforce is 75 percent women, 75 percent of the committee must also be female, meaning 75 percent of the committee consists of women with decision-making power! This Committee leads workplace improvement activities such as conducting worker needs assessment surveys to identify the community needs ultimately implement community development projects. Above, women workers have voted and wait for the results from Fair Trade Committee election day at Connoisseur Fashions, a Certified factory in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India. Read more empowerment stories about women. Fair Trade Premium Funds: Our Secret Sauce The Fair Trade Committee also manages Fair Trade Community Development Funds - a funding structure unique to Fair Trade USA. Brands pay a Fair Trade Premium on all Fair Trade orders and that extra money is returned to the workers via democratically voted funds. Take a look at "The Fair Price Shop" at the Bestitch Knits factory in Tamil Nadu, India. Workers voted to spend their Fair Trade Premium funds on an onsite store at the factory where they can purchase food and toiletries at wholesale pricing. This program not only helps workers save money on everyday items but saves them time and transportation resources. Learn more about shopping for Fair Trade Certified products. Empowered Women Power Their Families  Experience and research show that when women are empowered and engaged, it makes a tidal change of difference to their community circle. Women use their funds to provide better food for their children, build daycare centers, and make health and education a priority. Meet Latha Maheshwari, pictured above, is a tailor living in Sitambalam, India. Her son, Gautam, is a beneficiary of the Fair Trade Committee sponsored education grant, fully funding the completion of his high school education. Workers at the Bestitch Knits factory in Tamil Nadu voted to allocate the Fair Trade premium funds for opportunities in education for their children. Read their story, and be inspired. She worked hard to create a better future for her son. Now, he wants to do the same for her in return. Read their story.