New Salon, More Gender Justice: WOW Beauty Opens on Washington

I have to speak on the radio tomorrow for KPFK’s Feminist Magazine about NAPAWF Los Angeles. I’m not nervous but I’m curious as to what will come out of my mouth. The topic of course, is about NAPAWF’s work, particularly on a local, chapter level. This is tough because it has been slow and growing – and mostly policy. Honestly, I don’t know much about the policy.

But the manager of the show wants us to talk about IT issues ---- you know, NAPAWF’s engagement with Trafficking, about Nail Salon Workers. The condition of the workers.

So I decided: perfect time to plug SAN’s actions with “the ZIBA five.” On January 15^th, ZIBA fired five of its women from their threading salons because they had been protesting a decrease in wage and commission. Most of the women at ZIBA are South Asian recent immigrants and dealing with the harsh working conditions at such salons -- the constant repetitive motion of threading in the neck, plus continuous hours on their feet, all while bending over. The women were able to stage a walk out, along with over 20 other employees, against the previous Ziba contracts requiring a decrease in their wages, despite the growing number of ZIBA locations (and thus profit) throughout Southern California! They even got to negotiating a contract with better working conditions for those who continued at ZIBA.

But I'm also writing because, I spent my evening NOT writing.

Instead, I attended the opening of the women's new Salon; it's called WOW Salon. Located at 10836 Washington Blvd (just added it to google maps- woot). It was a celebration involving friends and family. A, sort of, immigrant's dream, right? Minus the exploitation! But really, what a great example of gender justice -- the process of empowerment, self-determination and economic development. Tell your friends, ladies, gents and gender non-conformers - plenty of opening sale coupons and the prices are reasonable!

I hope the show goes well tomorrow. But more so, good luck to the WOW women in their new salon.

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