The Cult of Sisterhood

How MLMs Exploit Women's Search for Community and Financial Freedom

In multi-level marketing (MLM), women are overwhelmingly the target. Promises of "financial freedom," "being your own boss," and "working from home" flood social media feeds, often wrapped in aesthetically pleasing branding, inspirational quotes, and the warm embrace of so-called sisterhood.

The reality is, according to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), over 99% of people involved in MLMs lose money rather than gain financial independence.

However, behind the glossy Instagram posts and carefully curated narratives lies a predatory system that preys on women's social and economic vulnerabilities—especially those embedded in patriarchal religious communities like Mormonism.