Circle Blogs

Catch up on our recent blogs and updates! We released exclusive interviews, monthly inspirational recommendations, global feminist news and expert-written articles.

GLOBAL FEMINISM MONTHLY INSPIRATION AND NEWS! JUNE 2023

Something to Read: 

Anahit Behrooz’s “BFFs: The Radical Potential of Female Friendship”, has gripped us this month! Her essays on the radical intimacy that emerge from female friendship are an incredible read! Check it out here.

A picture of a book called, BFFs: The Radical Potential of Female Friendship. It has a red cover and in the middle is a beige circle with a heart graphic which is a red outline. In the center of the heart is the words BFF.
Something to Watch: 

“A Girl Walks Home at Night”, is an Iranian feminist horror. Through the protagonist, a vampire named “The Girl”, director Amirpour sparks an important discussion on the treatment and objectification of women by men, particularly within Iran. Read a full review here.

A still from the movie A Girl Walks Home at Night”. It shows a young women in black and white. She is wearing a striped top and is applying eyeliner. The eyeliner is put on thick. The background is slightly obscured but you can see wallpaper that is alternating diamonds print.
A photo from the Womens march in washington in 2017. It shows a women holding a poster that says
Something to Talk About:

Scheaffer Okore, vocal African women’s rights activist and global development strategy advisor, writes for the Guardian, she states “we need a world where we don’t have to fight to be valued”. Read the whole piece here.

A photo of the guilty feminist podcasts logo. It has a yellow background, which a graphic that overlays the bottom saying
Something to Listen to:

Check out “The Guilty Feminist”, the renowned , award winning podcast by Deborah Frances-White. In her most recent episode she talks to Alison Spittle, Irish comedian, producer and actress. Listen here!

Read here!

Archived Monthly Inspiration and Global News Updates:

IN FOCUS: RANA PLAZA 10 YEARS ON

Will the fashion industry ever learn? 

Reflecting on Rana Plaza By Jacky Engel

On 24 April 2013, when the Rana Plaza factory collapsed, killing over 1,000 garment workers and injuring countless others, the world rightly reeled in shock. This was the deadliest garment factory disaster in history – the deadliest accidental structural failure in our modern memory – and as the death toll kept rising during the weeks following the collapse, the fashion industry came under heavy scrutiny. When the global brands sourcing from the factory were identified, Western consumers took to the streets to protest outside various big name store fronts. For many, perhaps, it was the first time the link between the clothes on their backs and the suffering of countless workers in far flung places was so starkly revealed. We are all connected in this “global village”. 

Read on here….

Bangladeshi Garment Worker Protests. Signs say Rana Plaza, Tazreen... No more Killing
WE INTERVIEWED OUR PARTNERS AT SRI LANKA WOMEN’S CENTRE ABOUT RANA PLAZA AND GARMENT JUSTICE.

The Sri Lanka Women’s Centre, which was founded in 1982, defends the rights of female garment workers and liberates them to stand up to violence. To find more about how you can support The Circle and Women’s Centre Sri Lanka head here.

Watch the video or alternatively check out the written version of the interview.

1. What was the impact of the Rana Plaza collapse in other countries such as Sri Lanka? 

2. What is happening in Sri Lanka currently to garment workers and why is it a global feminist issue?

3. Tell us about the project The Circle and Women’s Centre Sri Lanka are collaborating on to support garment workers and how those facing violence are being supported?

Women’s Centre is partnering with the Circle for the past 2 years and our project is a great opportunity for us to strengthen women workers/survivors of gender-based violence who are working in the garment industry through awareness raising, networking, advocacy, and psychosocial support.

4. What can I do to support garment worker justice?

TAKE THESE STEPS TO HELP GARMENT JUSTICE:

IF YOU HAVE 2 MINUTES:
  • Sign and share our petition to demand action and policy reform on wages in the garment industry. If you are a EU citizen you can also sign the Good Clothes Fair Pay Petition calling on the European Commission to legislate.
IF YOU HAVE 5 MINUTES:
  • Read and share “Reflecting on Rana Plaza. Will the Fashion Industry Ever Learn?” the blog by our Living Wage Project Manager Jacky Engel.
IF YOU HAVE 15 MINUTES:
  • Watch and share Fashionscapes: A Living Wage, a documentary produced by Livia Firth and Andrew that combines the voices of garment workers on the ground with top legal professionals who are working together to ensure garment workers receive a living wage.

Make a life-changing donation to support The Circle’s advocacy work in this area and to support grassroots organisations such as Sri Lanka Women’s Centre.