Supply and demand. There are far more qualified, talented and hard working people who want these positions than there are positions. They don’t *have* to provide maternity leave (or sick leave or even health insurance) to retain people.

How many teenage girls dream of a glamorous job in the fashion industry? How many FIT and Parson’s students (not to mention those in the Human Ecology departments of 4 year colleges in po-dunk towns across the country) would do anything just for an unpaid internship to get their foot in the door?

And I can’t tell you how many thirty-forty something smart, capable, sharp, intelligent, design savvy women I’ve met who want to change careers and go into… drumroll please… fashion!

I hate to say it, but with the economy tanking and spending on fashion contracting and more companies going out of business, the employers left will be able to offer less and demand more.

For those of you who can hack it, I admire your tenacity.