until the economy faltered, at which point President George W. Bush exhorted us to do our patriotic duty by heading to the malls, rather than signing up to fight. His call resonated with me. Twist writes, “Shopping was portrayed as an expression of patriotism, a way to show the terrorists that they could not destroy our economy, our consumerism, the American spirit, or the American way of life.” This work of patriotism was carried out by women: We spend more.[*6]
