“Men work hard, women work harder.”

Right now, women across the world are pushed out of the trade system – failed by patriarchal systems and cultures, and trade rules and an economic system built around the needs and considerations of men.

This International Women’s Day, we hear the thoughts of inspirational women across the world bearing the brunt of the unfair trade system – and fighting to reform it.

“The biggest problems (we face are) because a woman can't be independent in life, she can't work, she can't do anything, she has to depend on her husband to survive,

Because of this, a woman has no value, the fate of women will change if a woman completes her education, she can work herself, she can earn her own income only then her life will change.”

Sweety Begum. Bangladesh

The World Trade Organisation states that fewer than half of women across the world have jobs - though this statistic fails completely to consider the unpaid domestic labour and care work which disproportionately falls to women.

Women have to do much more work than men do, men only take care of outside job whereas women have to do household work like cooking, cleaning, collecting water, etc apart from working as a homeworker. It is hard for women. If at all they can, men needs to start taking responsibilities in household work as well.   

K Kalaivani, Homeworker, India

According to UN Women, if women’s unpaid work were assigned a monetary value, it would exceed up to 40 per cent of GDP in some countries, based even on conservative estimates.

But even when women are able to work for an income, most women still don’t have the same opportunities as men to take on formal employment.

All around the world, violence and harassment at work affects women regardless of age, location, income, or social status. The economic costs to the global economy of discriminatory social institutions and violence against women is estimated to be approximately USD 6 trillion annually.

“In a male dominant society for a woman everything is harder. Now we can go and work outside our home. But we always have to hear bad mouthing from elderly people. They say only bad women work outside the house. We have no freedom and must always be held accountable to our husbands. We women don't have any financial freedom as well. Every time I have to ask my husband to spend every penny that I earn myself which a man doesn't have to do.”

Ruma, Farmer, Bangladesh

It’s worth noting that whilst trade does discriminate against women, not all women are disadvantaged in the same ways or to the same degree. The country, area and city where women are from and live, their race, age, economic, education and social background, and sexuality are all factors influencing women’s experience of trade.

For example, in the UK whilst just 10% of all venture funding goes to businesses founded by women, this shrinks to 0.02% when looking at funding for businesses founded by black women.

It doesn’t have to be this way. Right now, there are women across the world fighting for change – and showing that it’s possible to build a fairer, more just trade system.

It’s estimated that closing the gender gap could boost the global economy by USD 7 trillion.

When women are actively engaged in income generation, they spend significantly more of their income on things which benefit others in their households – e.g. nutritious food, school fees, or shoes and clothing for children.

“Women invest in their children’s education. Most of Sadhna’s artisans have educated their kids, be it a boy or girl, very well. Some of the daughters join and learn the craft. Women have used that money to build their houses – and have done something important like their child’s marriage or supporting their girls in distress. But above all it is money that they have in their hands. That’s something not every woman has or has had. The account is in their name, without their signature the money can’t move. That's powerful.”

Smriti, CEO of Sadhna, a fair trade fashion business in Udaipur, India

There are no quick fix solutions – inequalities and exploitation of women’s unpaid labour is baked into the trade systems we are all part of.

Every day, we work alongside small fair trade businesses, campaigning groups, and inspirational female leaders who are showing that gender equality isn’t just a question of justice, but is vital to everyone’s economic success.

Fair trade businesses and producer groups actively promote gender equality, with a far higher proportion of women in leadership positions than in conventional businesses. Step by step, they are building an alternative trade system. 

We know that when women get a fair deal from trade, everyone benefits – and that's something to get behind this International Women’s day.