The lucky few who escape marriages or sexual slavery in China often face stigma on their return to Vietnam and are shunned by neighbors. Driven to offer such victims a purpose — and an income — Vang Thi Mai set up the Lung Tam Linen Cooperative in 2001. “Society may not like them but here they are confident,” said Mai, dressed in a traditional pleated indigo hemp skirt and embroidered coat. That poverty is in part what drives the cross-border trade in women and boosting incomes protects potential victims — and increases their social status. Most women in the area have swapped their colorfully embroidered hemp jackets and indigo blue hemp skirts for Made-in-China polyester outfits.

Source: Egypt Independent January 17, 2019 12:33 UTC