The League of Women Shoppers: Background
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The Atlanta chapter of the League of Women Shoppers was part of a national collection of local leagues which began in New York City in 1935. Local chapters included Atlanta, Boston, Detroit, Denver, Los Angeles, New Jersey, Oakland, Santa Barbara, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Portland, Columbus, San Diego, Seattle, and New York. The League promoted education and activism of women in labor issues through activities including consumer boycotts, letter-writing, and picketing during union strikes.
The goal of the Atlanta League of Women Shoppers, like other Leagues across the country, was to increase the standard of living for all members of the community. The League worked to increase women’s consumer consciousness through a focus on women’s “buying power” and its effect on local labor and consumer issues. Through consumer education and publicity of local labor issues, the League brought women’s attention to specific labor disputes, calling on women to boycott certain stores or brands and to write letters in protest of labor violations. Collectively, women were urged to “use your buying power for justice.” The League also promoted higher wages, a shorter work week, increased consumption as a means towards increased employment, the organization of Trade Unions, and the elimination of child labor and sweatshops.
The Atlanta League, under the leadership of President M. Raoul Millis, focused on local issues of specific importance to women and children, such as the dangers of raw milk and questionable methods of milk pasteurization, as well as specific labor violations of manufacturers of goods for sale in local stores. The Atlanta League of Women Shoppers published a monthly newsletter, “The Woman Shopper,” with articles on issues such as labor strikes, local films, legislation, and the activities of League committees. The League also published periodic “Special Bulletin” alerts concerning specific union disputes and labor strikes.
The Atlanta League closed in 1940 due to “the apparent impossibility of obtaining the cooperation necessary to keep it functioning efficiently.”