League of Women Shoppers

The League of Women Shoppers (LWS) was an American consumer advocacy group that also participated in collective actions that worked towards social justice for workers.

The League of Women Shoppers (LWS) was focused on using collective consumer power to reform the conditions of workers.

[1] LWS created "buyers' strikes" which often led to boycotts and also raised awareness of various social issues.

[9] The group emphasized the need for educating consumers on labor conditions and why it was important to support workers' rights.

[21] LWS boycotted Woolworths Five-and-Dime stores in 1936 since they sold products made in factories that were involved in labor strikes.

[23] In 1938, LWS joined a strike where "fur workers" were picketing Russek's Department Store in New York City.

[24] Around 600 "society women" in Washington, D.C. attended a fashion show sponsored by LWS called "Life Without Silk: From Morning to Midnight in Cotton and Rayon.

[26] Public sentiment was on the side of China and boycotting Japan was an act of social justice against "Japanese Aggression.

[10] At another strike to support mechanics, members of LWS showed up at the picket line in roller skates.

[28] Another campaign LWS was involved with was to change the unfair tax rules that governed margarine sales.

[32] Mary Catherine Phillips, who was also associated with CR, accused LWS of being "stooges" of the Communist Party in 1940.

[33] These accusations happened in spite of the fact that LWS was always specific about wanting to create a "more inclusive democracy.

[34] LWS no longer worked as an independent group by 1949 and merged with the Congress of American Women.