Enloe talks mainly about sweatshops and the role of women working in factories outside of our boarders in Asia, but what about today in the US? There absolutely are factories that violate minimum wage laws with such an influx of immigrants from other areas today.
Also If consumers stop purchasing these goods, then women working in factories could be forced to generate money in other ways, such as prostitution, but then what act should consumers take? Should women all over the globe be fighting for attire made in “sweat free communities?”
After reading this article I was inspired to find a potential solution to this issue of women sweating for my comfy shoes. Here are some actions that we the consumers can take to help promote women’s rights in these factories:
Create a sweat-free policy on your campus or in your community (Something so feasible and effective that we college students at Barnard and Columbia can easily do)
-Petition your student government or administration to only sell sweat-free clothing in campus stores.
-Urge the leaders of clubs to only order sweat-free t-shirts and other clothing for events.
Talk to your school's athletic department and urge them to use only sweat-free sports jerseys.
-Talk to local business owners about the importance of sweat-free products.
Hold a Day of Conscience to End Sweatshops
On October 4, 1997, the National Labor Committee, the Feminist Majority Foundation, the People of Faith Network, the United Methodist Church Women's Division and UNITE, the Union of Needle trades, Industrial, and Textile Employees, held the first Day of Conscience to end sweatshop abuses.
And finally to shop with a conscience J
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I've been interested in the sweatshop issue for a while. I've done quite a lot of research to find ethical clothing, and to my dismay, it's actually really hard to come by. What seems to be the most accessible and easiest solution is thrifting. Buying vintage clothing is not only better for the environment but does benefit sweatshop companies.
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