Women’s Activism in the Transatlantic Consumers’ Leagues, 1885–1920

Uncovers the central and leading roles of women in the development of organised consumer activism in the UK and the USA between 1885 and 1920

• Gives insight into the extensive influence of women activists around the turn of the twentieth century
• Works across academic disciplines to provide an historicised and critical analysis of the consumers’ league movement and its impact
• Traces the international awareness behind campaigns against labour exploitation and for protective labour legislation
• Explores the roots of ethical consumerism and consumer activist strategies that remain current and recognisable

Ethical consumption and consumer choice are at the heart of public debates today, but consumer activism has a long history. At the end of the nineteenth century, groups of women activists in different countries weaponised their reputation as consumers to mount campaigns against labour exploitation. By the early twentieth century, they had built an international network of Consumers’ Leagues that influenced public opinion and achieved legislative change. Analysing the campaign writing of women activists, including both well-known and recently rediscovered historical figures, Flore Janssen provides new insights into the campaigns that underpinned important developments in the rights of workers and the social position of women. Highlighting the social, economic and political influence of women as activists, this book discusses campaign strategies, but also draws attention to problematic politics within these campaigns. Through its critically contextualised analysis of this specific consumer movement, the book reveals the origins of many consumer campaign strategies that remain familiar today.