The biggest
problem I have as a women’s rights activist, especially one that focuses on
women’s rights at work is American Apparel’s owner, Dov Charney. This week Mr.
Charney was spoofed on Saturday Night Live, exposing this infamous business
owner to a larger audience. Those of us in the feminist and labor rights
movement have long been familiar with Dov Charney and his problems with the women
who work at his company. Most of the words I would use to describe Mr. Charney
are unprintable in this family blog. Mr. Charney has been sued five times for
sexual harassment. And reading the details of the environment at the workplace
at American Apparel is like reading a “what not to do” list for any 
manager.
The stories about Mr. Charney (often told by himself) are rude, disgusting and
show an unlimited amount of contempt for women as professionals and as workers.
Not to mention the advertising campaigns of American Apparel, which are
basically child porn or at least something made to look like and imitate child
porn. Either way, they are pretty unenlightened as well as disgusting/exploitative
to women.
So, we
should send a message to this company that that kind of mistreatment is
unacceptable, right? Well, not so fast. This week a story also came out in the
local Los Angeles Paper, LA Downtown, which highlights what American Apparel is
doing for the women in Los Angeles.
And that is, giving them jobs.
"'Even
in this economic downturn, at a time when unemployment is at a five-year high,
American Apparel has hired over 2,500 new employees [in Southern
California] this year,' said Marty Bailey, chief operating
officer for the company." In addition, the company states: "'We support the
highest-earning apparel workers in the world here, many earning more than
double the minimum wage,' Bailey said." And, in a time when many are
running away from immigrants, the company has been vocally pro-immigrant and
working to support fair immigration policy and immigrant workers in Los Angeles.
So, what’s
a feminist/fair labor advocate to do? Support the company because it employs
women at a fair wage? Or boycott because the owner is a sexual harassing
jerk? Frankly, I don’t have a good
answer, but I would sure love some advice.
The
blog Jezebel has a link to the recent SNL Skit on Dov Charney.
"American Success" by LA Downtown News.com
Comments
re: American Apparel: My Ongoing Dilemma
In the end, I would compare it to a presidential election. Even if you agree with a less popular candidate on more issues than the forefront candidate for your political party, if you don't vote for the big guy then the vote practically doesn't count. So as the person above me says, it would be good to support American Apparel for now to help the fair labor trend and then get picky later.
re: American Apparel: My Ongoing Dilemma
you cant always have it all. personally i would hate to be a women there but the the company sells both good products that arent ugly and unsexy like most sweat shop free clothing. they have to promote that to make them different from EVERY store...both pro labor and not. there is going to be problems with that but he has admitted to "past mistakes" so hopefully...this argument will be void when he sees he can sell sex without degrading women. in the meantime its what you can live with. it is one of the few stores that look cute and is pro labor...
re: American Apparel: My Ongoing Dilemma
Beth,
Charney is definitely a controversial character, but he is only one man. His company provide for thousands. I think we should support the company in order to encourage others like it to follow in their footsteps.
There's no doubt that the company uses sex to sell their products. I was on their site the other day while at work and saw a bare-breasted woman! I'm glad none of my co-workers saw what I was looking at, let alone my boss.
So yeah, I'm not all for the womanizing ads and the sexual harassment, but on a bigger picture level that's not what the company is all about.
re: American Apparel: My Ongoing Dilemma
Yes American Apparel shouldn't be called a sweatshop but that doesn't mean it gets the gold star either. I think they are in the gray area where they treat workers okay. The thing that really makes me angry about American Apparel is the fact that they are incredibly anti-union and even busted an attempt by their employees years ago to form a union.
I just get very nervous when the boss continues to play the role of ultimate decision maker and wonder if that is exactly what the company claims to be against. i think shopping at companies like no sweat apparel and other listed on the shop with a conscience guide (sweatfree.org/shoppingguide) are still a better option.