Gender Equality Conscious Companies

Advocacy and activism are alive and well in a culture that is growing in self-awareness. Many recognize the societal inequalities in areas like education, employment and opportunity across gender, sexuality, and race.
Fortunately, individuals and companies often step up to create opportunities in the direction of correcting these imbalances. The main goal of our growing Notably Wild is to inform, educate and advocate for change in our local communities and the areas we see the need.
Donating money is awesome and if you can, you should see where you can sacrifice to do so. But speaking from personal experience I know I don’t have the financial ability to donate to all the places I see a need.
Skills-based volunteering is an impactful alternative to your cash. This is where you offer your talents and giftings — like for example in graphic design, event planning or a second language — to add value rather than just show up to a volunteer event.
If you’re craving another idea for how to make an impact in your everyday life try spending your money (that you were going to spend anyway) on products and with companies that share your values and socially conscious initiatives.

As of 2016 there were ~11.3 million women owned businesses in the U.S., employing ~9 million people and raking in more than $1.6 trillion in revenues. Between 2007 and 2016, the number of women owned firms shot up by 45%, five times faster than the national average. Yet female-founded companies receive only 3% of venture capital funding and far fewer loans.
Here are a few companies we found to get you started:
- Brujas is an urban creative organization of femme-identified people that combines skateboarding, art, and politics to support youth activism. Founded by several queer people of color, the coalition uses skating to build community and challenge the notion of property ownership and gentrification. To support its racial justice efforts, Brujas sells skate clothes and accessories. The funds also support inclusive skate events, parties, and anti-gentrification meetings.
- Equal Period celebrates LGBTQ identity and community with creates shirts, hats, and accessories and doesn’t gender its products, welcoming nonbinary and genderqueer people as customers. With every item sold, $10 is donated to established nonprofits serving the LGBTQ community, like The Ali Forney Center and the GLBT National Help Center. Equal Period also has an option to donate a shirt to homeless LGBTQ youth for $15.
- Kirrin Finch sells dapper menswear-inspired designs made to fit women, transgender men, and nonbinary people.
- Queer-owned beauty company BeeLux Goods keeps your skin clear with products from all-natural ingredients. Products feature honey from local Georgia bees as a main ingredient in an effort to support the future of local, vulnerable bee populations through its products.
- Pack Up + Go gives the gift of adventure. Started by CEO Lillian Rafson who was working for an office-supply company in New York City when she realized she’d rather be traveling. She quit and headed to Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia. She launched her company both to encourage Americans to travel and to support local businesses in each locale.
- Book worms will love My Lit Box, a subscription box company that will send you a newly released novel by a writer of color plus one to two other treats. Founded by Sanura Williams after she was fed up with the 9-to-5 grind she turned her dream into her full-time job with the goal of highlighting authors of color.
In addition, if you are you interested in getting your own venture off the ground? Check out these 11 opportunities for grants.
Do you know any gender equality conscious companies in your local community? Let us know so we can highlight them!
This article is a part of the Notably Wild Gender Equality series.
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