All of us are consumers, women and men of all nationalities, all social classes and groups. But women are the largest group of consumers, buying for others as well as for themselves. Women are also the poorest. And in varying degrees all over the world they are still discriminated against — an injustice rooted in the subconscious of both men and women as well as in the structure of our societies.

Their inferior status combined with their poverty make women particularly vulnerable to the lack of adequate goods and services. They are the ones most likely to suffer from inflation and unscrupulous marketing practices. They suffer most from the lack of adequate housing, health services, appropriate technology, water and fuel supply. And often women's particular needs for all these things go unrecognized and overlooked by those making the decisions.

But women's role as consumers of goods and services also gives them far-reaching possibilities for effecting change and provides a concrete starting point for women to organise.

When we met about two years ago and started talking, we realised that the centrality of consumer issues to women's lives and similarly that of women to consumer issues has largely escaped the notice of both the consumer and the women's movements.

This book is an attempt to fill that gap and a first step towards finding a common ground for the two movements. As such, it takes a somewhat broad look at important issues such as housing, food, health, fuel, transport, hazardous products and credit. And it illustrates through a variety of stories, how women consumers are already organising and working for change in diverse situations the world over.

Our hope is that this book, published in both English and Spanish, will provide a springboard for further thinking, discussion and work. For until they have faces, and until women as consumers are recognised, their participation in seeking a better life for themselves and for others will be limited.

Foo Gaik Sim
International Organization of Consumers Unions, Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific
Penang

Marilee Karl
Isis International
Rome

June 1987