Together with CDI, eliminate gender stereotypes in the textile industry

Responding to this year’s International Women’s Day 8/3 with the theme “Equality today, for a tomorrow”, CDI urges everyone to take pictures with their hands holding oars, expressing the meaning of “removing gender prejudices”, unite to create conditions for women to promote leadership roles in the workplace.

This is also an activity in the program STITCH – Sustainable Textiles Initiative: Together for Change.

‘‘It is important to keep working on gender equality in the textile industry, especially since 80% of the workers in this sector is female’’, says Lisa Süss, the Coordinator of STITCH; The Sustainable Textile Initiative: Together for Change. ‘‘Gender inequality is still a huge issue, that is why we all embrace this year’s slogan of International Women’s Day. Let’s #BreakTheBias.’’

STITCH envision a global garment industry that contributes to an equal and just society by respecting human rights in the world of work. The partners join forces to make sure that the people who produce our clothes, are put in the centre of all decisions and actions in the value chain.

One of the goals of STITCH, which is funded by the Dutch ministry of foreign affairs, is to strengthen female leadership: ‘‘If you want to stop harassment and discrimination of women at the workplace, an important step is making sure that women are equally represented.  Although most textile workers in factories are women, the management is predominantly men. If we want to address issues like gender based violence but also unpaid parental leave or dismissal because of pregnancy, we need to realize more female leadership within unions and NGOs.’’

Part of the STITCH programming is the Gender Market Tool, which serves as a check-list for STITCH partners to help guide them and colleagues in implementing a gender lens when they are starting a new pilot, project, report, event etc.

With these and other activities, STITCH commits to reducing gender-based disadvantages; addressing the stigma, stereotypes, prejudice, and violence workers face; and facilitating women’s participation in social dialogue and collective bargaining.

Join us to ask attention for addressing gender inequality by using the #BreakTheBias.

CDI Vietnam.