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Making lives - Chapter 5 (Understanding consumption (Determined by life…

- - - - Seduced
        
        Disposable income, steady job
        
        Market freedom is the defining freedom in society
        
        Means to create self expression, a sense of self worth and identity
        
        Consumer lifestyles is a means to a sense of belonging, acceptance and membership within society
        
        Able to consume effectively in the eyes of others
        
        Subject to changes in life circumstances
      - Repressed
        
        Opportunities for self expression and membership is restricted as opposed to industrial society where criminals, porr, debtors, slum dwelling or those confined to a workhouse were classed as failed members of society
        
        Not all low income are repressed- I.e students that have less responsibilities may be able to consume in the way they wish
        
        Limited life chances - the unemployed, low paid, recently arrived migrants,disabilities or older people with basis state pensions. minority ethnic groups that experience social exclusion
    - - Consumer freedom more dominant today
        
        Consumption more dominant in shaping identities rather than production and work
        
        Consumer freedoms dominate throught he seductive appeal of consumerism, which controls peoples wants and desires
    - - Membership and valued identity are determined by the degree to which someone can participate in consumer activities
      - Society remains unequal and divided in terms of inclusion in and exclusion from the activities of consumption
      - Consuming is the defining feature of the present day
      - Consumption is a key means for establishing and maintaining status within a society
      - A generalised argument based on concepts of repressed and seduced
      - Social Cleavage - defining lines of division and inequality that characterise a society. For example - status in industrialised and ability to spend in contemporary UK
      - His claims are not wholly valid
        
        Seduced are able to see through the manipulation
        
        Repressed might be able to create space to consume in ways that they find satisfying and inclusive
        
        There are other approaches that people can take to consumption
        
        Some consumers the idea of luxury has little appeal- for example, the environmentally conscious
        
        Less agreement on the power of seduction as people still have a choice
      - Pain of hopelessness when items are unobtainable
      - Flawed consumers - collateral casualties of consumerism
- - - - Thorstein Veblen :star:
        
        The theory of the leisure class in 1899
        
        Bought things to demonstrate aqcuired wealth and status
        
        Studied consumer habits of newly rich industrialists iin the US
    - - Post industrialised is about fitting in
      - Consume for social and personal reasons
- - - - Study: How to consume
        
        Used historical evidence: economy self help manuals aimed at middle class market
        
        Mrs Beetons book of household management- gave advice on how to consume
        
        Prior to the 1800 people were concerned on how to display their character that reflect their social class.
        
        They did this by buying items for their home, managing finances and entertaining
        
        Emphasis of the books was shifting away with concern in displaying character to displaying individuality and personality