Why read Politics of the Pantry?

Book cover of Politics of the Pantry: Housewives, Food, and Consumer Protest in Twentieth-Century America

Book description

The history of women's involvement in politics has focused most heavily on electoral politics, but throughout the twentieth century a far wider range of women has engaged in political activity when they found it increasingly challenging to feed their families and balance their household ledgers. The Politics of the Pantry…

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American history

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Why read it?

1 author picked Politics of the Pantry as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

Allyson Brantley

Author

Women – and housewives – have long done most of a household’s shopping, making them the arbiters of family consumer habits. But as Twarog details in this fascinating book, many working-class American women have used their status as housewives to engage in protest and build power. Politics of the Pantry focuses particularly on battles over the cost of food – especially meat – in the 20th century. Women-led meat boycotts occurred in 1935, 1966, 1969, and 1973, for example. This slim volume is readable, engaging, and highlights the important role that women have played in consumer politics.

From Allyson's list on boycotts & consumer activism.