Fair Wear publishes stories of women garment workers in Bangladesh

The FWF project to understand the main violence issues faced by women in Bangladesh and India, as part of its programme on prevention of violence against women, has allowed to collect data on the issue at several factories in those countries. More than that, it has allowed insight into the lives of women who work at garment factories.

While this is not a comprehensive study into the lives of all garment workers in Bangladesh and India,  it is a window into the personal, and it helps us think about violence in terms broader than just the physical.

Often understated, the circumstances that push women to become garment workers, far away from their villages in many cases, are clearly visible in these stories. The main challenges are discussed, as is the longing for family that often comes from these moves. Also, violence can be seen in the lack of safety measures at work, which is a source of worry for some.

But there is also a sense of empowerment. These women have carved a path of their own. They often support their family, and are independent. FWF seeks to provide a more rounded picture of women workers. They are not just victims of fate, condemned to exploitation. They are independent individuals, seeking happiness and ways to improve their own life.

As one of the women says “They wanted me to stay in our home in the village, but I didn’t stay. I am making my own future.”