CONTEXT
As Virginia Woolf said in her book A Room of One’s Own, considered one of the most famous feminist texts of all time: “Give a girl a room of her own and 500 pounds a year, and we will soon see that she is capable of writing her own story.” In other words, economic autonomy is essential for the autonomy and freedom of human beings in today’s world.
Traditionally, work carried out by women—women’s work—has been the least paid or not paid at all, thus creating an insurmountable barrier to freedom.
In this context, artisanal work, as well as the work of preserving and maintaining culture and traditions, are largely carried out by women. These women possess invaluable and unquestionable knowledge and skills.
The goal of EMRA is for women to develop their own personal autonomy, which must begin with a fundamental first step: economic autonomy.
As Virginia Woolf said in her book A Room of One’s Own, considered one of the most famous feminist texts of all time: “Give a girl a room of her own and 500 pounds a year, and we will soon see that she is capable of writing her own story.” In other words, economic autonomy is essential for the autonomy and freedom of human beings in today’s world.
Traditionally, work carried out by women—women’s work—has been the least paid or not paid at all, thus creating an insurmountable barrier to freedom.
In this context, artisanal work, as well as the work of preserving and maintaining culture and traditions, are largely carried out by women. These women possess invaluable and unquestionable knowledge and skills.
The goal of EMRA is for women to develop their own personal autonomy, which must begin with a fundamental first step: economic autonomy.
the essence of emra
EMRA is an adaptation of the Arabic word aimra´a, which means woman, specifically from its phonetic transcription <mra>, which is almost identical to the Spanish word hembra <embra>.
EMRA therefore refers to hembra (female) in its most natural sense, as the female gender of the human being, and consequently, to women and femininity in its most global meaning. But what does being a woman and being feminine mean in the contemporary era? Far from the established meanings in our past Western culture, which are associated with specific roles and bodies, EMRA aims to open up the concept of “woman” to be constructed and deconstructed.
EMRA2EMRA seeks to represent the connections, relationships, and transactions that occur between women in a concept akin to B2B—in this case, from woman to woman. EMRA aims for women to be the ones to create value among ourselves.
the essence of emra
EMRA is an adaptation of the Arabic word aimra´a, which means woman, specifically from its phonetic transcription <mra>, which is almost identical to the Spanish word hembra <embra>.
EMRA therefore refers to hembra (female) in its most natural sense, as the female gender of the human being, and consequently, to women and femininity in its most global meaning. But what does being a woman and being feminine mean in the contemporary era? Far from the established meanings in our past Western culture, which are associated with specific roles and bodies, EMRA aims to open up the concept of “woman” to be constructed and deconstructed.
EMRA2EMRA seeks to represent the connections, relationships, and transactions that occur between women in a concept akin to B2B—in this case, from woman to woman. EMRA aims for women to be the ones to create value among ourselves.
BEING A RURAL WOMAN
Gender inequality is one of the main causes and effects of hunger and poverty. It is estimated that 60 percent of people suffering from chronic hunger are women and girls. (Source: Gender Policy and Strategy PMA.) Studies indicate that when women have higher incomes, the nutrition, health, and education of children are better. Women represent two-thirds of the world’s 796 million illiterate people. Each additional year of primary school increases girls’ eventual wages by 10 to 20 percent. It also leads them to marry later and have fewer children, making them less vulnerable to violence. In most countries, rural women who work for wages are more likely to have temporary, part-time, and low-paid jobs than men. Women also receive lower wages for the same type of work. (Source: FAO, 2011) “State of World Agriculture and Food: Women in Agriculture, Closing the Gender Gap for the Sake of Development”. More rural women are victims of domestic violence, yet few turn to available services, according to a study carried out in several countries by the World Health Organization (OMS).
WHAT DO WE DO?
We elevate the value of the artisanal and high-quality work of millions of women around the world. By connecting the work of women with other women, we weave a network of support among us. The combination of the best materials and the finest artisanal techniques, in service of contemporary design functionality and through artistic intervention, results in exclusive, high-quality products, creating a luxury model based on sustainability.
Our current key areas of work include:
- Curation of Exhibitions.
- Production, Publication, and Editing of Research on Art and Craft.
- Production and Commercialization of Contemporary Art/Utility Objects/Fashion Created in Collaboration with Artisan Communities.
- Organization of Outreach and Educational Workshops.
HOW DO WE DO IT?
EMRA was born with the mission of being a collaborative project among women. Artistic interventions in ancestral traditions create new appreciation for the knowledge and craftsmanship of women artisans around the world. Collaborative encounters between artists and women’s communities from distant parts of the planet weave a network of support among them.
Our community is made up of women from around the world, inspired by values such as ecology and feminism. Our products are created from 100% natural materials. These women, with interests in art, design, conscious and responsible consumption, and beauty, act as consumers and therefore patrons of artists and artisans from all over the world. Through the purchase of these pieces, they make possible the economic autonomy and real freedom of other women.