It means you get involved. Technically, our local forms of government are not participatory democracies. Officially, participatory democracy is direct democracy, in the sense that all citizens are actively involved in all important decisions.
It shouldn't if washed with gentle care. Rayon is a cellulose fabric and like most cellulose fabrics, it may shrink when washed. If the manufacturer has indicated the garment should be dry cleaned only, do not push your luck. If it is hand-washable though, you can use the gentle cycle on your washing machine and Woolite to get the job done.
Rayon: Here's a synthetic that can hang well, but it can also do some pretty bizarre things for a fabric. Check the fabric contents on window treatments to be sure the rayon content is low or nonexistent. In the summer, rayon absorbs humidity and shrinks upward. It lets back down in lower-humidity months.