“It is not our differences that divide us. It is our inability to recognize, accept, and celebrate those differences.” — Audre Lorde
Today, March 8th is International Women’s Day, and in 2017 the global community is embracing this day more enthusiastically than any time in history. Groups of women and men are coming together around the world to celebrate the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women.
At Alabama Chanin, we want to be a part of creating a society where women of all races, ethnicities, backgrounds, religions, socio-economic statuses, sexual identities, gender expressions, ages, abilities, and political points of view have the freedom and ability to care for themselves and their families in safe, happy, and healthy environments.
As a company that comprises 98% female employees, Alabama Chanin supports and celebrates International Women’s Day for many reasons—including this year’s challenge to #BeBoldForChange. We have always looked to the ideal of the Beloved Community as a guiding vision for our work and for the society we want to create. This means being a positive force in a world that is often unjust; it means building relationships when many seek to create fractures; it means helping other women attain their fullest potential.
Alabama Chanin is a woman-owned business that has always focused on empowering other women. We recognize that women are often the primary caregivers in the home and we have created a business structure that can offer our female artisans (each founders and operators of their own 100% woman-owned small businesses) an element of agency and control over their own lives and destinies. We continue this mission through our partnership with Nest—the non-profit organization that has helped women all over the world establish and grow businesses that help women, their families, and their communities to prosper.
Today we join with women all over the world in making March 8th A Day Without a Woman, which is meant to demonstrate the incredible impact that women have on the worldwide economy—all while many times earning lower wages than their male counterparts and facing sexual discrimination and harassment. Each of you can take part in this initiative, regardless of sex or gender identity, by doing one of the following:
- Women, if they are able, take the day off from paid and unpaid labor
- Avoid shopping for one day, except for small, women-owned and/or minority-owned businesses
- Wear red in solidarity—red is the color of revolutionary love and sacrifice, of our drive to survive and succeed, and is the traditional color of the labor movement
Alabama Chanin has invited our own staff to take part in A Day Without a Woman by either wearing red or taking a day off for their own purposes and beliefs.
In truth, every single day at Alabama Chanin is a woman’s day. We are always looking for more talented, diverse women to join our team. (Apply here.) If you are interested in becoming an artisan, contact production (at) alabamachanin.com.
Read more about the women who have helped build and shape this company here—because we recognize that it takes a village. We hope you will join us.
The women in the grid are employees, collaborators, friends, historical figures, artists, and chefs who have been featured on the Alabama Chanin Journal.