WHY WOMEN NEED TO SHOP

Reclaiming the Ancient Female Practice of Gathering

Nubian women at Kortie, on the Nile. (1846-1849) by David Roberts

History tells us of a world where men hunted and women gathered to sustain their communities. For centuries, it was our role as women to bring resources back to the hearth, to build and nurture the people around us. Material goods held value based on their social and spiritual purpose, not just their inherent worth. This practice went beyond simple acquisition—it was an act of survival, an instinctive tradition passed down through generations. Today, the urge to gather finds a new expression in our modern purchasing behavior. In a world that is constantly looking for the "next new thing," we mindlessly fill our carts, obsess over deals, and hoard unnecessary objects. How can we adjust our shopping habits to fulfill our innate cravings and avoid over consumption?

Knowledge is power. By recognizing these deep-rooted impulses, we can adopt more intentional habits. Conscious consumerism allows us to break free from the cycle of overconsumption. Any purchase made in the secondhand market is an act of conscious consumerism, as it involves acquiring something that already existed. Instead of foraging in the wild, we sift through garages, shops, and resale sites, eager to find something that resonates with our spirit. In doing so, we bridge the past and present, tapping into a primal instinct to gather that remains unchanged.

As we fill our homes with secondhand treasures, we layer our spaces with pieces from different eras, each offering a comforting sense of familiarity. Each one becomes a keepsake in our personal journey—with stories to tell, worn edges, and subtle imperfections— adding character to our lives in a way that mass-produced, new items often cannot. The items we collect become part of our legacy, a personal museum that tells our story and, perhaps, the stories of those who came before us. I come from a long line of high-end hoarders, with a particular love for beautiful things. For me, collecting is a spiritual practice, a way of returning to myself. Each item is a reminder of where I’ve been and who I’ve become, helping me build a life rich in memory and meaning.

Women have been gatherers for millennia, carrying with us an ancestral memory of collecting. We will always need to shop and through conscious consumerism we can foster a connection to ourselves and our communities, preserving the history of a the past. So, the next time you walk down the shopping aisle or hit the checkout button, remember: you’re doing what you’ve always done.