Wall St. Journal: Shopping helped bring about more equality
Before the mid-19th century, only the wealthy were allowed into upscale stores, and women often didn’t stroll around downtown. Women were escorted to and around most public environments.
Shopping:
- Helped bring women out of the home and into the workforce.
- Enabled the common person to drink and eat the same thing that presidents and kings did.
- Helped minorities leverage their civil rights.
Some interesting facts:
- About 60% of Americans (197m) shop.
- Woolworth’s cut traditional retail prices dramatically and brought luxuries to the everyday masses.
- Without shopping—and capitalism which powers it, our lives would likely be much more spartan and less enjoyable.