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.
Credit: kelly CC-BY-SA 2.0. When rayon is wet, its strength is decreased by as much as 50 percent. Washing in a machine can break down the fabric from the repeated agitation. Dryers only increase the chances of damaging the fabric. The result is a loss of softness with the rayon often feeling stiff and scratchy.