One simple solution to boosting economies around the world? Empowering women to earn their own money, of course. If half the population isn’t operating at their highest potential, how can we expect things to get better for all of us?
Yet, the fact still remains that, while many women want to earn more by putting up a dream business, they just don’t have the resources. In a study among 15 countries commissioned by Avon with input from Oxford Economics, 74% of Filipinas surveyed said that they lacked the financial resources needed to kickstart a business. It’s a staggering statistic, and it comes with a challenge.
Aside from financial resources as a barrier, many women, especially in the Philippines, are limited by rigid gender roles. 79% of Filipinas believe that a woman’s most important role is to take care of the home and family, while a whopping 91% of them believe that a man’s most important role is to be the breadwinner of the family. These numbers from the Philippines are much higher than global averages of 29% and 42%, respectively. These traditional cultural beliefs place restrictions on women’s time. Indeed, 70% of Filipinas believe that they’re less likely to set up a business because they’re too busy looking after their families.
These women could be the business leaders of tomorrow—if they only had the right resources and opportunities.
To help overcome these challenges, Avon is launching Stand4Her—a global campaign that commits to improve the lives of 100 million women every year by advancing their earning potential and empowering them in every way possible.
Since 1886, Avon has stood for women. Avon was, in fact, founded as a way for women to earn their own money. Avon provides innovative, quality beauty products sold by a multi-million global network of independent Sales Representatives and supports women’s entrepreneurship. This noteworthy advocacy has placed Avon in the best position to breach the barriers between women and their long-term happiness and success.
Under the Stand4Her plan, the Avon Academy will train 500,000 entrepreneurs every month, enabling more women around the world to earn money. On the other hand, Avon’s Fair for Her Program aims to improve the working conditions of 250,000 women across Avon’s supply chain. This goes hand-in hand with Avon’s Global Women’s Employee Strategy, which addresses the needs and aspirations of female employees. To ensure this progress is sustained, the Avon Foundation for Women Scholarship Program helps Representatives and their families pursue their lifelong educational goals.
Avon’s study also revealed the following: nearly 80 percent of women believe beauty brands put too much pressure on them to be perfect; a fifth of women feel unsafe in their communities; and a third will experience physical or sexual violence during their lifetime.
Avon’s new brand strategy therefore aims to democratize beauty—representing women of all demographics, ethnicities, sexualities, and ages. To help women lead safer, healthier lives, causes like The Avon Breast Cancer Promise and The Avon Promise to Help End Violence Against Women and Girls exist to educate and support them.
“Stand4her is what we do, every day; it’s what we’ve been doing for over 130 years,” says Jan Zijderveld, Avon Chief Executive Officer. “We’re reigniting Avon’s strong sense of purpose and doubling down on our efforts to support women and provide more meaningful and rewarding opportunities for our beauty entrepreneurs.”
Each meaningful cause in the Stand4Her initiative speaks to a struggle many women today face daily. With this landmark campaign, Avon wants to make sure that women and girls around the world are given the safety, representation, and opportunities they deserve.
About Avon
For 130 years Avon has stood for women: providing innovative, quality beauty products which are primarily sold to women, through women. Millions of independent Representatives across the world sell iconic Avon brands such as Avon True Color and ANEW through their social networks, building their own beauty businesses on a full- or part-time basis. Avon supports women’s empowerment, entrepreneurship and well-being and has donated over $1billion to women’s causes through Avon and the Avon Foundation. Learn more about Avon and its products at www.avonworldwide.com.
