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Farmworker women use their clothes, including bandanas, as protection against sexual violence in the workplace. A California survey found that 90% of farmworker women state that sexual harassment is a major problem.

The Bandana Project was launched in June of 2007 as a part of a national initiative to end workplace sexual violence against farmworker women.

In solidarity, farmworker community members, advocates and other individuals decorate white bandanas with words of encouragement and inspirational art.

These bandanas are then hung in a public place to raise awareness about this serious problem.

The bandanas symbolize the sexual exploitation of farmworker women. They are meant to honor those who have taken action to hold the perpetrators and their employers responsible for this violence. These bandanas are also a show of support to victims whose shame and fear prevents them from taking action. May these women be fortified and empowered so that they will no longer have to suffer in silence.

What can I do to help?
Join us by raising awareness about this epidemic because no one should be forced to give up their dignity in order to feed their family. Help us send the message that we will not tolerate sexual violence in the workplace or any place. You can help further this movement by planning a bandana display and / or an educational community event about this issue in your area.

Host a community decorating party
You can decorate the bandanas with a group of community members or co-workers and discuss the issue of sexual violence in the workplace. You can also make a plan for future outreach on this issue. Contact Esperanza for a copy of the Bandana Project poster to hang along with your project display. Supplies are limited.

Plan a community event
Collaborate with area anti-violence organizations, anti-sexual assault coalitions, legal services offices, private attorneys, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission or other state anti-discrimination agencies to plan an educational forum so that community members know what their rights are in the face of workplace sexual harassment and sexual assault. This would also provide for an important opportunity to talk about sexual violence prevention and to inform community members of the resources available to help them if they are victims of sexual violence. List of local groups holding events

Host a networking reception
Invite farmworker community members, grass roots organizations, religious groups, union representatives, legal services advocates, state and local anti-violence organizations, federal and state government agencies and health care providers to a meeting or reception so that they can connect.

Hold a health or community information fair
Set up informational tables including one dedicated to the Bandana Project, after a local church service, parent meeting, or at a popular community location.

Host a house meeting
Organize a group of friends and community members to meet in a small group at someone's home to discuss the problem of sexual violence and the resources available to help victims. Some community members may feel safer and more comfortable participating in a house meeting rather than a large community event.

Capturing your support
Take a picture with your bandana so that we can add your photo to our collection of supporters. Upload these photos at www.flickr.com. Use "bandanaproject" as your tag line to help us locate your pictures.

Permanent collection
Please send us your bandanas and they will become part of our permanent collection to inspire others:

Bandana Project
Southern Poverty Law Center
233 Peachtree Street, Suite 2150
Atlanta, GA 30303

Making and displaying bandanas
Plain white cotton 21 1/2"-square bandanas are used for this project. You can also buy white material and cut bandanas to the same size. We ask that you use the same size white cotton material as the official bandanas used by Esperanza in order to keep them uniform with the other bandanas being created throughout the country. They can also be purchased on the Internet. Contact Esperanza to find out if we can send you some white bandanas to start your display. We have a limited number of supplies but we are happy to help our partners start their display. You can use permanent markers to decorate the bandanas or any other art supplies that your group would like to use. Some bandanas have been designed with pen, pencil, paint, chalk, and thread.

Where to hang the bandanas
Bandanas have been hung in meeting rooms, office lobbies, schools, and museums. Displays can also be set up in health clinics, public libraries, or any other public display area.

How are they hung?
Given that farmworker women wear bandanas that are folded into a triangle, the bandanas have been decorated and hung this way. Fasten them with clips or clothespin to a wire or string line, or tack them to a wall. There is no one way to display the bandanas.

Reach out to the press
Educate them about this problem so that they will write stories to raise public awareness. Inform them about the community events and bandana displays that you are hosting. By speaking out publicly against this violence, we can send a message to the perpetrators that sexual violence will not be tolerated in the workplace.

If you would like to become a Bandana Project partner, contact Esperanza at 1-800-591-3656. Esperanza is a legal advocacy project of the Southern Poverty Law Center dedicated to the representation of farmworker women and other low wage immigrant women who are victims of sexual violence in the workplace.

Speak out against sexual violence today and always.