Purchasing Power

Why do Canadians consume? This book explores the meanings of consumption in early-twentieth-century Canada, demonstrating that many Canadians have long viewed consumer goods as central to their visions of belonging, identity, and citizenship.

Donica Belisle is an associate professor in the Department of History at the University of Regina.

"Drawing on rich archival research, Donica Belisle has written a fascinating consumer history of Canada, focusing on women’s contributions before World War Two. This well-written study explores the links between citizenship and consumption, detailing the ways that white British practices were normalized as "Canadian" and the role that women played in the formation of white Canadian nationalism in the early twentieth century. Belilse’s work offers a more nuanced understanding of the periodization of North American consumer society. Analyzing twentieth-century women’s "prosumer" activities such as cooking, sewing, and knitting, as well as diverse Canadian women’s efforts on behalf of consumer-oriented social movements, Belisle demonstrates the centrality of consumption to Canada’s cultural, economic, and political life. Her book is a welcome addition to recent scholarship that is working toward breaking down the artificial barriers between consumption and production."