Consumer_Society

Outline the argument that consumer society in the UK is a divided society Introduction: The way in which individuals and groups of people buy goods and services is referred to as consumerism. A society in which individuals buy new goods often, especially goods which they do not need and a society which sees owning many things as a high value is referred to as a consumer socity. It is a post industrial term in which that society catergorzies individuals by what people consume rather than the jobs that they do or the good which they produce. We, as social scientists identify the different attitudes to why people consume and how this emulates the social and cultural differences. This essay will explore the ideas of consumerism and how it forms inequalities. We live in a society where consuming goods is more of a leisure activity rather than an essential need. The choices and freedom we as individuals have in regards to where, how, when and how we consume is vast. Every turn we take in a road, when we swtich on the tv or the internet, the emergence of retail parks and online shopping has provided us an alternative. We not only consume goods, but we are able to consume services and experience too.This new rise of consuming has divided contemporary society. So where did our love of consuming these unessesery goods begin' The rising wealth and prosperity in the uk has seen mass consumption of cheaps goods being made, some say at the expence of the third world countries. While the rich become richer, our consumption status has substituted our occupational status, and now we are able to express ourselves and our individuality through consuming. Warren Susman also adds that the services and goods we consumer establish and displays a personal identity and social inclusion to others, which he called 'performing self' . We buy for the pleasure of fitting in to society rather than buying for our own need. But some may argue that our consumer society doesn’t really give us a choice, hence why brings divisions and socialisation amid communities. Sociologist Zygmunt Bauman argues that n this contemporary british society, we are no longer defined in groups called working or middle class, but in a group; "seduced and the repressed". His theory indicates that society is seen in the context of winners and losers. Bauman describes the seduced as those individuals who are coaxed to consume items which are considered luxurious, to the context that it is seen for its value rather than its function, reasons being to seek recognision and status. This can be termed as ' conspicuous consumption'. Related to this Thorstein veblems studies named ' the theory of the leisure class, 1899" used this idea to show how people consumed in order to advertise their status and wealth. Those who are in the seduced groups could satisfy their needs and desires and could call themselves winners, they included wealthy people, those with good income and had enough money which allowed them to buy things whch were unesesary. the represed was the opposite of the other, they where those who were left behind th e'consumer society'. They included those who were unemployed, the low paid, older generationsand sometimes the disabled and those who are sick. Additionaly it can be said that those who have migrated are marginalised. However we cannot generalise, there are individuals who choose not to consume, as Veblem refers to the punks, who wore bin bags in their own admission . Introduction: Paragraph 1 The first part will introduce Mr Iygumnt Bauman´s The seduced and repressed concept and what does he mean by the concept and who are those as he discribe as the seduced and the repressed. The second part will look at the power of grant supermarkets play a role in a consumer society as a winner. The main body: Paragraph 2 Introducing and define Mr Iygumnt Bauman´s The seduced and repressed group division in a consumer society. What does he mean and who are those as he discribe as the seduced Paragraph 3 What does he mean and who are those as Bauman´s discribe as the repressed. And a summeried for both. Paragraph 4 Introducing and by using the postive sum and zero sum define the grant supermarkets role as a winner in a consumer society and it effects related to small businesses, suppliers´s workers in forigen countries (paragraph 5) Conclusion Paragraph 6 To sum up all parts in the main body and conclusion and define who are the winners and lossers in a consumers society. Main Body: Conclusion: “There is enough on earth for everybody’s need, but not for everyone’s greed.” Gandhi