LS&Co. Unzipped

Welcome to our blog. Here’s where you’ll find a “behind-the-seams” look at what’s going on with Levi Strauss & Co. You’ll hear from a variety of voices, from both inside and outside the company. And you have the chance to share your thoughts. So read on — and weigh in!

Jun 22 2010

Power to the Women

When it comes to empowering women, we have work to do. You. Me. Everyone.

According to some estimates, women represent 70% of the world’s poor. In the developing world, the percentage of land owned by women is less than 2%. More than half of the estimated 33 million people living with HIV worldwide are women.

And here’s a fact on the other side of equation. In 2006, The Economist estimated that over the previous decade, women’s work had contributed more to global growth than China. So you see not only the results, but … the potential!

That’s why I’m so strongly supportive of the United Nation’s Women’s Empowerment Principles, guide posts for actions that advance and empower women in the workplace, marketplace and community.

I’m especially pleased that my boss, John Anderson, the president and CEO of Levi Strauss & Co., is one of the 38 lead signers of the CEO Statement of Support of the Women’s Empowerment Principles. The United Nations Development Fund for Women and the United Nations Global Compact have just announced this.

It’s especially relevant for an apparel company, where so many of those who make the products we sell are women – up to 75%, depending upon the country.

As is always the case, actions speak louder than words. So, besides signing a statement of support, what are we doing as a company?

Worker Rights Image

Right now, for example, we’re partnering with Business for Social Responsibility on a big idea. The HERproject – for Health Enables Returns – seeks to educate apparel factory workers about reproductive health and access to health services.

We’ve found alarmingly low levels of knowledge about menstrual health, family planning, pregnancy and post-partum care, and HIV/AIDS.

Case in point: these factory workers miss a great deal of work due to their menstrual cycles. We’ve found in Pakistan and Egypt that menstrual hygiene is an “easy win” with clear business benefits.

Basic stuff. Important, too. And that’s why we – and other major brands – are working with local non-governmental agencies to support such services.

Not only is it the right thing to do, it makes good business sense.

For every dollar invested in building the capacity of factory health clinics and providing peer-to-peer health education and training, three dollars of return can be realized in the form of increased productivity on the factory floor.

Again, when it comes to empowering women, we have work to do and many problems to solve – at all levels, not just on the factory floor. But the HERproject and the UN’s Women’s Empowerment Principles are, in my opinion, part of the solution.

Posted By: Jill Nash, Senior Vice President, Levi Strauss & Co. Corporate Affairs

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Evelyn Nelson Kelley (not verified) - Jul 20 2012
I love how you believe in sponsoring women of every kind, language, and nation, please put me on your mailing list. Blessings Evelyn

AbuZeid Mabrouk (not verified) - Dec 22 2010
great movement wish to join and impact positively

Gana Sheeba Rajender (not verified) - Sep 05 2010

Greetings from India Glad to know you and your esteemed work, Would love to know more from you in order to help women in rural areas of AP district in India. Thank you

Editor's note: Hi Gana. Thank you for your greetings and kind comments. As it turns out, we are working with the United Nations and other organizations to empower women around the world, including in India. And I'm happy to tell you that the HERproject, mentioned in this blog, recently expanded its work to India. You can learn more about this initiative here.

Renwei Huang (not verified) - Jul 05 2010
very glad to know about you &your perfect work.very want to learn from you and to help women in china.

Charlie Fields (not verified) - Jun 23 2010
Wow...who could have guessed that health education could have such a significant ROI?! Not this guy.

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