How Fair Trade Empowers Women

How does fair trade empower women? It’s an easy blanket statement, empowering women, but with fair trade, it’s more than just a statement; it’s a proven set of actionable standards.

Beyond fair wages and safe work environments, fair trade directly impacts women through economic independence, flexibility, and holistic care programs. Dive in with us on each aspect. In turn, we’ll cover some concerns and ways groups are working to improve.

Economic Independence

Many fair trade organizations work with groups in the Global South. This phrase is used in socioeconomics to represent developing countries. Women working in fair trade groups often receive an opportunity that other women in their communities may not have: an independent income.

Take the women of Mayan Hands in Guatemala, for example. Many of these women have children. The need for childcare would typically prevent them from working, and the household's single income may not be enough to cover school expenses, creating an endless, systemic loop of poverty. Continuing the cycle meant women remained uneducated and unable to find work, or again, unable to send their children to school.

According to the Cooperative For Education, 79% of indigenous Guatemalans live in poverty, and 90% of those children never graduate from high school. The need for steady, dignified employment is not a guess; it is a dire necessity.

Working for Mayan Hands, whether in felting or basketmaking, the women are able to contribute monetarily at home. They may be able to send their children to school, and Mayan Hands even offers scholarships to children of the artisans.

Flexibility

This doesn’t change the fact that children must reach school age to not be in the home, or the fact that many women take pride in their culture and heritage, where raising a family is a proud accomplishment. 

This is where women in fair trade have the freedom of flexibility. Groups like Mayan Hands allow women to work from home so they may contribute financially, experience economic independence, and still care for their families.

Holistic Care Programs

Fair trade understands the lack of education and healthcare in many of these areas and brings it to the forefront. Mayan Hands offers women’s health and mental health programs, among others, so the women are not only able to work but have a solid foundation to teach their children and make informed choices.

Fair trade is not about charity and temporary fixes. It focuses on creating a strong foundation so that communities not only thrive, but continue to do so for generations.

The Down Side

Nothing is perfect, and people have expressed concerns that gender equality looks different from culture to culture. We argue that fair trade aims to celebrate cultures and uplift them in a way that preserves tradition while offering women a chance at economic freedom, flexibility, and holistic care if they choose.

No one is forced to work in fair trade, which is the point. What fair trade does is provide an alternative for people who would like it and creates a solution where there once wasn’t one.

Empowering Women

Fair trade empowers women with access to jobs, fair pay, safe work environments, flexible schedules, and access to healthcare and other special programs. Women are viewed holistically through fair trade, not just as employees or workers, but as people with basic needs and an opportunity to enjoy even more.

Explore the beautiful work of women in fair trade and see for yourself the quality work that comes from people who feel valued and seen. Shop baskets from the women of Mayan Hands here and learn more about their mission and projects at mayanhands.org.