It’s Time to Show the F*ck Up ⁠— For Women-Led, Purpose-Driven Businesses

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Jun 10

We’re witnessing a catastrophic threat to the future of companies owned by marginalized populations. Here’s how you can help.

It’s Time to Show the F*ck Up For Women-Led Businesses, Meghan French Dunbar

This global pandemic has every one of us feeling all sorts of ways, but one thing that’s common is a sense of collective grief for all that has been and is being lost: life, community, ceremony, income, hugs, breaking bread, and more. Through this grief, I’ve had moments of inspiration about coming out of this unprecedented time with a better world. Videos like this have inspired me to imagine that maybe, just maybe, we won’t return to business as usual once the fog clears.

However, the status quo isn’t just going to change because there has been an interruption. The interruption could serve as the catalyst, but people have to actually take action to start rebuilding the world that we want to see post-COVID-19. We can’t just sit around and hope that it somehow comes back together “better.” Each and every person needs to begin making choices now that begin to usher in the world that we want to see.

We’re at great risk of getting to the other side of this (whatever that even means) looking at a reality where only the behemoth companies have survived. And not just behemoths, but behemoths that are inhumanely treating their team members, disregarding negative externalities, and generally just perpetuating the same capitalistic, shareholder-centric bullshit that has gotten us to where we are today. And I get it — it’s just so damn easy to order stuff from big box stores with the click of one button and have it delivered to your door in two days, but please know that every time you purchase from those types of companies and not directly from a small business, you are voting for the type of world you want on the other side.

As we’re witnessing a catastrophic threat to the existence of small businesses everywhere — as well as a very specific threat to the future of companies owned by marginalized populations — we have to ask ourselves, “What are we actually going to do about this? What types of businesses would I like to see survive and make it to the other side?” And we have to take action. I’ve spoken with numerous small-business owners in the last month and there is one consistent theme: these companies are barely hanging on. Every order counts. Every dollar counts.

For me, the world is made so much better when owning a business as a member of a marginalized community is not only made possible, but supported in its flourishing. As someone who has covered the conscious business space for years and, specifically, the womxn owners of these businesses, I know that these are the leaders who I want running businesses for the sake of my child’s future. So, I realized that my highest and best contribution to my community at this particular moment in time is to highlight legit women-led, conscious brands in hopes that it will start inspiring people to buy directly from them. So that’s what I’m going to do — and here’s how you can, too. Support and promote the hell out of these companies. Buy their products and tell your friends about them. Create a better world. Let’s show the f*ck up, my friends.