We have a society which is structured so that social esteem or value is connected to what we can consume. And so the inability to consume affects the kind of social value that we have. Money displayed in terms of consumer goods just becomes a measure of worth, and that’s really important to people.
Author: Juliet Schor | Source: Vox | Subjects: Consumerism, Life & Society
The key impetus for contemporary consumer society has been the growth of inequality, the existence of unequal social structures, and the role that consumption came to play in establishing people’s position in that unequal hierarchy. For many people, it’s about consuming to their social position, and trying to keep up with their social position.
It’s not necessarily experienced by people in that way — it’s … [ Read more ]
Author: Juliet Schor | Source: Vox | Subjects: Consumerism, Economics | Economy, Life & Society