Expanding social justice knowledge with sweatshop history

Abstract

<p>The purpose of this research was to provide examples of undergraduate textiles and clothing lesson plans that incorporate social justice into the course curriculum. Specifically, the researcher examined three periods of sweatshop conditions in the United States ready-to-wear apparel industry: 1880 to 1915, the 1930s, and the 1990s and developed corresponding lesson plans. The three periods were selected because they represented significant occurrences in the history of sweatshops in the United States, including disasters, legislation, and demonstrations held by unions, trade leagues, consumer advocacy groups, and the popular press media.</p>