THE CHALLENGE: To wear a dress all 31 days of December.
THE PURPOSE: 1. To raise awareness about human trafficking. 2. To raise money for anti – trafficking organizations; International Justice Mission, & A21.
I first heard about Dressember from the lovely Jaz Persing one afternoon in Burbank. I was immediately pulled in by the creative concept, and the beautiful intention behind it.
IT WORKS AS A COMMUNITY EFFORT: By donating to the movement, or sponsoring an individual that you know is participating, (like you would for a marathon,) you support two major anti-trafficking organizations. Last year, $465,000 was raised by women around the world.
As articulated on the Dressember website:
“Dressember uses fashion to advocate for women who've been exploited for their femininity. As women take on the creative challenge of wearing a dress for the 31 days of December, they are advocating for the inherent dignity of all women.”
I am excited to announce that I have officially decided to join the movement and have created my page HERE! I love this campaign because the unapologetic embracing of femininity is so rare.
I myself have fallen victim to the idea that in order to be successful, I need to “act like a lady, and think like a man." That I must unnaturally take on certain characteristics that society deems as "masculine."
THE TRUTH IS: In order to truly be empowered as integral females, we must embrace ALL that we are, and not be ashamed of our individual characteristics.
LET US RECLAIM THE DRESS AS A BEACON OF EMPOWERMENT.
If wearing a dress for all 31 days in December will provide me an opportunity to stand proud of my womanhood, then bring it on. There are liberties that I take for granted every single day. There are pieces of innocent femininity that have been stolen from millions of young girls that fall victim to abuse, rape, and trafficking. I stand for them.
I stand to proclaim that I am not ashamed or weakened in my womanhood, but PROUD, strengthened, and empowered. And so are they.
There are over 30 MILLION slaves under the oppression of human trafficking; more slaves than ever before in human history. Trafficking is truly a complicated and multi-faceted issue, perpetuated by different societal demands, stigmas, oppression, & ignorance.
(To learn more about the issue, CLICK HERE.)
Prostitution & trafficking look different around the world, depending on where you go and which culture you step into.
But rarely is it anything less than horrific, traumatizing, & dehumanizing.
Many who hear the stories walk away feeling helpless and overwhelmed. How can we go about our lives where we are planted and still be utilizing our personal resources to effect change?
ONE OPTION IS: to support the organizations that currently exist, directly and tangibly effecting the kind of change we want to be a part of.
I have created my Dressember page HERE.
By clicking the donate button, you will contribute in a practical way to what is already set in place.
OR, IN LIEU OF DONATING: I ask that you would be mindful of where your money is going as you buy gifts for your loved ones this Holiday Season.
Fortunately, there are plenty of fair trade organizations from whom we can buy awesome gifts. I ask and encourage you to support these companies that directly benefit trafficking survivors & workers.
(Click here for The Fair Trade Holiday Gift Guide, or for more ideas, CLICK HERE.)
In closing, let us not lose sight of the true spirit of the Holiday Season. What I love most about December is that people are aware more than any other time of year, that joy is found when we reach out to help the destitute, and give from our hearts.
I am beyond excited to begin this endeavor. Such a fun and simple challenge has already raised hundreds of thousands of dollars to support the anti-trafficking movement.
AS WRITTEN IN THEIR MISSION:
“The Dressember Foundation exists to inspire and empower a global community of like-minded women who are locking arms to face one of the greatest injustices of our time.”
I thank you all sincerely for "locking arms" with me as I take on my fashion challenge in order to combat this injustice. I’ll be documenting my journey, and I welcome you to follow along.
Happy Holidays, and I’ll see you all soon.
- Angelique.
Luke 4:18
18. “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me To preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed; 19. To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.”