Fair Trade, Knitters, and Leadership

Fair Trade, Knitters, and Leadership

Knitting leaders assumed their leadership roles after leaving traditional lifestyles, motivated by the desire to help other women become empowered, independent, and stand up for their rights.  All have a common grounding in the indigenous women’s rights group, Bartolina Sisa.  Despite common beginnings, there is strong competition and mistrust between knitting leaders, even though they come from an indigenous tradition that strongly support collectivism, solidarity and working together.  It seems knitting leaders are behaving in a manner inconsistent with their values and ethics.  This is area for further study.  A fair trade researcher recently told me a similar situation exists amongst women weaving leaders in Guatemala (though this has not been formally studied).  A broader study of leadership amongst Fair Trade women could help to create more understanding of the challenges they face and lead to the development, again, of a more just Fair Trade model.  Creating access for knitting leaders in Fair Trade policy development and governance will also help to create more justice in this system.