FCS Feminism & Consumerism Event

What is it?  Does It Matter? and What Can You Do?*

Wednesday, January 19
6:30-8:30 PM

Watha T. Daniel/Shaw Neighborhood Library
1630 7th St. NW

The economic empowerment of women is one of the most remarkable revolutions of the past 50 years.  In WIN's first Feminist Conversation Series event of 2011, we'll address women's increased spending power per the intersection of feminism and consumerism. With four Wal-Marts opening in DC at the same time that they are being sued by female employees for discrimination, we'll hear from a panel of experts, including Dr. Robyn Muncy, Associate Professor at UMD, and an expert on women's role(s) in 20th-century social policy, who will discuss women's consumer activism in the early to mid-20th century.

Dr. Muncy will discuss how some women -- middle class and working class, black and white -- used their consumer power to affect social change in the early twentieth century and the 1930s.  She will also explain that it wasn't until the 1940s that employers succeeded in convincing the American public more generally that the interests of consumers and workers were different (even opposed).

The discussion will prompt us to ask ourselves:

   - Do we shop at stores that discriminate against women, or depend on
     sweatshop labor of women around the world?
   - How can we avoid this when we are scrapped for cash, and need to cut
     our own budgets wherever possible?
   - Is "shopping your values" just for the affluent?
   - Is capitalism anti-feminist? Is there the possibility of a feminist-
     capitalist society?
   - Is hyper-consumerism bad for feminism, or can we use our economic
     power for good?
   - What are other WIN members doing? What is your personal philosophy
     on feminist consumerism?

Join us in asking hard questions and contemplating what consumer responsibility means for each of us and our communities.