In preparation for Women's History Month, when we thought about what we, Sabai, wanted to talk about — we kept returning to this idea about Girlbosses. In the post- Girlboss reckoning period, we were still left unsatisfied with all the (well-founded) critique and felt like we still had something to meaningful to contribute to the conversation. While many insightful critics pointed out how the women we uplifted as ceiling-shattering CEO's failed to create inclusive work environments, we found that the critics and cultural analysis stopped there.
We failed to look at the impact of Girlboss culture on people beyond the corporate level. How were the women in manufacturing and at all levels of the supply chain being uplifted, celebrated, and provided for? As female SHE-E-Os broke barriers for themselves — did they do so at the expense of the people and communities that produced their products? How was selling products in the name of women's empowerment contributing to landfill waste that disproportionately impact low income women of color? Fast consumerism isn't just a sustainability issue — it is a people issue and a women's issue. Landfills and unethical manufacturing facilities disproportionately hurt those most vulnerable and create systemic toxic poverty cycles.
This Women's History Month, we're taking an intersectional approach to Girlboss culture. We're saying Girl Bye to a system that has only served a few and highlighting the importance of paying a living wage to everyone your businesses touch. Because uplifting only SHE-E-O's is costly for everyone across the entire economy and it's about time we treat everyone the way they deserve.
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