Ridan Mehran Mahbub
From Dhaka to Phnom Penh to Tiruppur, the buzzing garment factories of Asia employ millions of women,who work tirelessly day and night to ensure global demands are met. They are the hands behind the expensive clothes we see in the stores of Louis Vuitton and Ralph Lauren, the unseen force driving a multi-billion-dollar global apparel industry. In countries like Bangladesh, women make up more than 60% of the workforce in the ready-made garment (RMG) sector. This shift, often referred to as the “feminization” of the apparel workforce, is frequently held up as a symbol of empowerment, a narrative of progress in which young women from rural or marginalized backgrounds gain independence, income, and a voice through formal employment. For countless women, factory jobs have opened doors to financial autonomy, delayed early marriage, enabled education for their children, and even shifted gender dynamics at home.
While the numbers and surface-level outcomes appear promising and a clear sign of victory for the rights and freedom of women, the deeper question is more complex: has this feminization of labor truly empowered women, or merely exploited their economic vulnerability? Most female garment workers remain trapped in the lowest-paid, most precarious jobs on the factory floor. They’re often the first to be laid off during downturns, the least likely to be promoted, and the most vulnerable to harassment and abuse. Moreover, their break times are heavily monitored, wages barely cover living costs, and reports of unsafe working conditions persist despite years of public attention. In many cases, the very attributes that make women “desirable” workers in the industry, such as being compliant, non-confrontational, and desperate for income, are the same traits that leave them open to exploitation. When we look at the global supply chain, it becomes clear that the big brands benefit from this imbalance: low-cost labor with little resistance, high output under pressure, and a workforce that’s expected to be both invisible and indispensable.
When we look at this negative side of employing women in the workforce, It is important to note that garment jobs aren’t inherently disempowering. It is undeniable that for many women, these jobs have been life-changing. However, empowerment encompasses more than just employment opportunities; it also includes mobility, choice, safety, and dignity. When women are truly empowered, they can advance into management, entrepreneurial, or supervisory positions instead of spending decades working on the sewing line. It means being able to say no to dangerous situations, report abuse without fear, and bargain for pay that is consistent with what they deserve. The current system does not readily provide that kind of empowerment. It is crucial for all relevant sectors, which includes the manufacturers, consumers, brands and the government, to step up in order to stop the exploitation of garment workers. Brands must go beyond audits and compliance checklists to support long-term, gender-inclusive partnerships with their suppliers. Governments must strengthen labor protections, ensure maternity leave and affordable childcare, and crack down on wage theft and unsafe workspaces. Factory owners must invest in their female workforce not just as laborers, but as leaders. Most importantly, consumers, who are often unaware of the labor behind their fashion, must begin to see their purchases as political choices with real human costs.
The feminization of the apparel industry shouldn’t be used as a cover for abuse and exploitation. It has to serve as a focal point for change and requires the support from everyone benefitting from their work. If the global apparel industry is driven by women, it needs to be redesigned with their needs, rights, and goals at its center. Thanking women for their work is insufficient; we also need to cherish, safeguard, and make sure that their labor becomes a pathway for greater things. Then and only then can we declare that the women who support this business are genuinely empowered.
Ridan Mehran Mahbub, The Apparel Digest’s Representative for North America, is pursuinga Bachelor of International Economics at the University of British Columbia (UBC), Vancouver, Canada. He is a recipient of UBC’s prestigious Karen Mckellin International Leader of Tomorrow (KMILOT) Scholarship.
