Common Junior League FAQs

This post was last updated in December 2023.

My post about joining the Junior League is my most popular. I’ve noticed a bevy of other questions that get asked frequently, so I’m addressing them below along with some stereotypes.

Is the Junior League Republican?

I’m sure some of them are, yes. Geography is really going to answer this question. My League, in the heart of Silicon Valley, takes diversity and inclusion very seriously. There was a brief period where our book club pivoted to focus on DEI, but DEI has since spun off into its own affinity group.

I think it’s safe to say no in our case — and I don’t imagine the Junior League of San Francisco quite fits this notion, either.

What are some common Junior League stereotypes?

Some old school stereotypes: housewife without a day job, wears pearls everywhere, loves planning galas.

I’m sure this is true for some, but hey, to each their own. When I was going through recruitment for my League, someone cracked a joke to me about how they’d never get any use out of the Junior League cookbook and we’d be better off giving out DoorDash waivers in our neck of the woods. Ain’t that the truth.

By the way, I recently found out that my League’s cookbook was the recipient of a James Beard award, so don’t knock it.

Is there an age cut off in the Junior League?

This question isn’t completely out of left field. Some Leagues do have age cutoffs, and all of them have age minimums. New York’s is 18, which is how one of my friends became a sustainer while still in her mid-twenties. Some Leagues state that a member must join by a certain age, or that an active member must become a sustainer by a certain age.

If you want to know what the rules would be for the League chapter closest to you, visit their website or talk to their recruitment chair.

For those wondering what the average age of an active League member is, I would say late twenties to mid-forties. I’ve observed that most of the presidents in my League so far have been in their forties or fifties.

What does the Junior League do?

This is what AJLI says:

The Junior League empowers transformational female leaders to set bold goals, open their circles, disrupt convention and change the conversation for the betterment of civil society.

On our 119-plus-year journey, we’ve tackled intractable and systemic problems alongside teams of influential, com/passionate community and corporate partners, government officials and dedicated change-makers who have been resolute in finding solutions, improving lives and strengthening communities near and far.

I say we volunteer to make an impact in our local community, raise money to support ourselves as a League chapter and give back to local nonprofits that can help make said impact, raise awareness of issues we view as important, and develop women to be excellent leaders.

If you’d like to know more about how the Junior League has become involved with policymaking, check out their SPAC program here.

What is the time commitment?

The time commitment can vary widely. The bare minimum would include joining a committee and attending those meetings. There are many tiers of time commitment, including co-chairing a committee or even joining your chapter’s governance board.

And of course, if you’re a bit mad, you can be president of your chapter…in which case I believe you might have just taken on a second full-time job. That said, it’s probably rewarding AF. Think of the leadership skills you’ll gain.

Don’t sweat the time commitment if it’s a major deciding factor in whether or not you join. You can always take a leave of absence if you have something come up in your life that requires you to step away. People step away all the time in my League due to family circumstances, job demands, and the like.

What do you wish you’d known about the Junior League before you’d joined?

Feature photo by Volha Kudzina on Unsplash