<p>Would you encourage a young woman to join the Junior League? I have done lots of volunteer work, but don’t know anything about Junior League. My oldest D, who just moved with her husband to a town in the South, is considering joining to meet people. My impression is that she’d meet a bunch of women like those in The Help. Am I wrong? </p>
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<p>Depends on the chapter. </p>
<p>Was she in a sorority in college?</p>
<p>There are junior leagues in our area. It’s my impression they are filled with Republicans and people with more money than me. But that may well be unfair! (Photos on the website show lots of young white women.) They raise money with a consignment shop in an upscale town and give grants to various worthy causes. As a young person without kids figuring out where to meet people is always difficult. There’s certainly no harm in attending some meetings and seeing whether they are a good fit. And sometimes even if people aren’t quite like you, you can learn a lot from them. One of the reasons we enjoy going to our local Y over other gyms, is that it is full of regulars who actually talk to each other. It’s a good window into a somewhat more conservative blue collar view point. And they are mostly very nice guys even though we don’t agree on politics at all.</p>
<p>It is definitely worth her while to go to a few events and see if the group appeals to her. There are quite a few professional women of varying ages at the events I attended. It is a way to make contacts and friends, as well as develop leadership skills. In our state, they have started various projects and turned them over to other orgs to continue. </p>
<p>If that group doesn’t suit her, perhaps chamber of commerce, Jaycees, Lions, Rotary, Toastmasters? Some also find church and other community groups great gathering places. </p>
<p>I think she should go and check it out. She might make friends, and she might like some of their service work. And if she doesn’t find it appealing, she can move on. As mentioned, even if she doesn’t like JL, she might hear of another service group she does like. Maybe they work with a philanthropy she will find appealing. </p>
<p>When I have to move to a new place I try a number of groups. They certainly aren’t all good fits, but I have to look around and see what there is. </p>
<p>My mom has been active in Junior League for my whole life. Mathmom’s description fits (not just my mom, but her friends who belong as well).</p>
<p>I joined years ago (I’m not Republican and wasn’t in a sorority) and found it was a great way to meet women I would never otherwise meet. Since I worked full time, I only knew the mothers of my kid’s friends. By working on different placements, I got to know women with older kids, younger kids, women who were single, divorced, married with no kids. It was very worthwhile and our chapter worked to help raise money for a local battered women’s shelter and a reading program for young children. </p>
<p>I know loads of people involved in the Junior league. I never participated myself.
However I bristle at the “The Help” comparison. None of the women I know involved in Junior League are racists.
It has changed here a bit since the 1960s </p>
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<p>Bromfield, I assumed when I read this that you were making a (bad) joke. That you are actually serious is really bizarre.
Maybe you should consider educating yourself about both the junior league and the south before sharing your prejudices with your daughter.</p>
<p>D joined the JL shortly after moving to her new city. She wasn’t sure at first, but she attended a couple of meetings and decided to go ahead and join. She’s really enjoyed it - met new people, networking, service opportunities…NOTHING like The Help (we joked about that when she first joined). And I wouldn’t consider her a republican.</p>
<p>I do think it has a lot of “sorority-like” qualities. </p>
<p>the one here just does a lot of committee work. They have a huge attic sale every year and I think the money goes to scholarships. They also give out teacher grants. </p>
<p>Does one need to be “invited” or “sponsored” in order to join?</p>
<p>D was not “invited”. She actually was cleaning out her closet and happened to go to the thrift store sponsored her local JL…chatted with some of the girls (women, actually) and went to the New Member meeting shortly after that.</p>
<p>I am planning on joining my local chapter, I looked into it a year ago and was interested but I didn’t have time then. I’m not a republican either… my particular location isn’t hugely conservative so perhaps that helps. It seemed like a nice way to meet other women, I am not sure how else to do it until I have kids in school. The chapter here pushed networking opportunities and the opportunity to hone some professional skills, which certainly doesn’t seem very much like The Help. At least at my chapter, they have a recruitment meeting once a year in the Fall that you must attend if you would like to join. Then if you want to join, you can pay your dues and you’re in. No need for sponsors or invitations. Since I wasn’t able to commit last fall, I have to wait until the next meeting to consider it again… they only recruit once a year.</p>
<p>When I think about the women in The Help I do think racist, but I also think catty and judgmental, conservative upper/upper middle class housewives, which I assume is what Bromfield meant or she would have just said racist. I think it is a worthwhile question to ask if Junior League attracts primarily upper class conservatives who don’t work. My thought is that it may, but how comfortable a different person might find it varies by chapter.</p>