This is a good question and perhaps one fraught with tension in our woke time of inclusivity. Does buying from Women mean do not buy from Men? Maybe, but not always. Three ways to frame answers to this question are in terms of resources, empowerment, and balance.
To purchase we spend money or resources. Simple right? I can buy milk from the corner store, or I can buy milk from a large department chain store. I choose to buy milk from the local corner store. In either scenario I have milk. In choosing to buy from the local store which is owned by a local family, I support them, and their investment in the local community. They often sponsor local events and donate or discount items for local fundraising events. The next outcome I receive is it is viable for them to remain in business and I will always have access to milk locally.
I can buy skincare from a department or chain store or I can buy skincare from a woman who formulated her own or has partnered with a skincare company. She will generally give me a personalised service and be able to answer my questions or find someone who can. She may deliver to my door. Again, either way, I will receive skincare, in the second scenario I will also be putting resources into a woman’s hands. When a woman has resources, she can support herself. When she supports herself she is empowered with choice. The choice to speak up, the choice to live in an environment that supports her, without risking her health and well-being, availability of food or a roof over her head. It also gives her the choice to lift others up.
Nature does not create waste and has many systems to provide a diverse and resilient world. Nature does like balance and I believe we can learn from this. I currently see a world out of balance, with lots of systems and constructs, physical and bureaucratic, to keep us safe. This is great. However, these systems do not nurture and nourish and often don’t collaborate. I believe women are more likely to nurture, nourish and collaborate and when you give your resources to a woman in exchange for her services or products, she is supported to bring her genius to the world and those close to her, bringing a richness to life and establishing a balance between the energies of protection and safety and nourishing, nurturing and creating.
I encourage you to buy from women, be a conscious consumer, making your resources work to create the world you want, long after they have left your control.
