Amway, MLM or Network Marketing and the Paradigm Shift to Modest Clothing

There is a large movement within the Christian community toward modest clothing. The hope of most in this movement is to effect the rest of society to begin dressing modestly. The practice of the business community and Amway, MLM or network marketing may indicate that this goal is achievable.

If you only consider the advertising policies of major corporations you would be inclined to wave the white flag of surrender in this effort to effect society toward modesty. Of course the advertisers are acting on research that indicates they can sell more product by including a scantily clad woman in their add (for more information on this phenomena see Melissa Duriga's article “Visual Science and the Feminine Masterpiece”).

You must understand that although the big corporations receive most of the press it is small business that fuels the American economy. It is estimated that about 70% of all jobs in America are provided by small business. There is no question that the media images produced by big business can transform society. Because of their numbers does it not make sense that the practices of small businesses can reform society as well?

Amway or MLM is certainly not a majority of small business in this country but network marketing constitutes a significant portion of small businesses. As the leader in the industry most direct selling companies emulate some of what Amway has done to achieve their success. One of the principles that Amway has lived by for many years, and has been incorporated by many other network marketing companies is “Dress For Success”.

If you will pick up a copy of the “Dress For Success” books you will find that a major component of the dress for success strategy is conservative, or in other words, modest, dress. “Dress For Success For Women” will counsel to not wear short skirts or dresses and to not wear tight fitting clothing. If you were to attend an Amway convention or even one the local distributor business meetings you will find a room full of well dressed men and women, and the dresses will be much more conservative than what you will find in your typical department store. These women seem to make an extra effort to find the most modest clothing for business purposes. Or it may be that they only own one modest dress, but that is the dress that they wear when attending an Amway function.

Do these women dress modestly because they are so much more virtuous than the rest of American society? Although virtue is a principle that is taught by the leadership in Amway, that is not how they sell the idea of dressing modestly to new recruits. When they are setting up the first meetings for new recruits they tell them that if they will dress conservatively (read modestly) they will relate to the largest number of prospects.

Imagine that. Immodest dress turns people off when relating personally in a business relationship. Maintain hope. We can reform society for modest dress if we simply persevere.