Gender Hierarchies in the Fast Fashion Industry: The Role of Exploitative Labor Practices in Perpetuating Gender Inequality

Fast fashion has become a global phenomenon, yet few people recognize the industry's reliance on the exploitation of women, who make up the majority of its workforce. This thesis examines how the labor practices of the fast fashion industry reinforce gender inequality, with a focus on Bangladesh and other major garment-producing countries. By tracing the economic, social, and historical forces that have driven the feminization of garment labor, this project demonstrates how the industry perpetuates systemic gendered exploitation through low wages, dangerous working conditions, and gender-based violence. Grounded in feminist labor theory, Marxist critiques, and globalization frameworks, this project situates the fast fashion industry within the broader intersection of capitalism, patriarchy, and globalization. A case study of Bangladeshi garment worker protests exemplifies how the fast fashion business model exacerbates gendered exploitation, while an analysis of corporate social responsibility efforts and worker resistance movements assesses both challenges and opportunities for reform. By contextualizing the relationship between gender, labor, and power, this thesis aims to expose the contradiction between fast fashion's feminist marketing strategies and the exploitation of its female workers, ultimately advocating for change toward a more equitable and ethical fashion industry.