Role and Effects of Consumerism in Society Essay

With the growth of consumer culture and globalization, especially in capitalistic societies, more attention is being paid to the growing role of consumers. More specifically, scholars like Wei Luo, Angela McRobbie and Mary Lou Roberts have closely analyzed female consumerism and its effects in the empowerment of women. Is so-called feminist consumerism a tool of empowerment for females within modern society, or is it another system which perpetuates traditional patriarchal ideals? Scholars generally hold “two dichotomous standpoints” (Luo 2) on such feminist consumerism, either embracing it as the assertion of free choice on the part of the woman (Luo) or another form of “gender retrenchment and the undoing of feminism” (McRobbie 542). They…

regulation to protect the environment or should consumerism be encouraged? Consumerism and advances of modern agriculture are topics of discussion usually under the radar in Politics. Believe it or not the majority of Americans do not realize the emphasis being put on spending and encouraged consumerism in our everyday lives. Growing environmental concerns have surfaced our economy within the recent years in regards to American consumption and over spending in the economy. Some may argue the…

Dear Mrs. Singer, I am writing this letter to report my findings on consumerism. During my extensive research on various topics related to consumerism, consumerism in America will be my focus in this research paper. I will begin by describing trends and statistical facts that I have discovered about consumerism in America. I will then tailor my research to show the effects it will have on future generations. Finally, I will express my personal opinion on consumerism as a crisis within society,…

change in behavior and role of women concerning their appearance and dress in the US? Throughout the essay, the topic of mass communications and its effect, particularly on women, will be explored, supported by a number of primary and secondary sources. Quotes and advertisements from the 1920s will be referenced and analyzed as well. The investigation begins with an analysis of the effects of the war on the changes of behavior among women, arguing that the postwar effects contributed most…

values of societies. In this type of scenario, the development of the modern society leads to the weakening of primary ethical values and to the dehumanization of interpersonal relationships, while consumerist and commercial relationships grow to be a determinant factor in social relations. On this regard, it is conceivable to consult the book What Money Can’t Buy: The Moral Limits of Markets by Michael J. Sandel, the author explores the improvement of the current society and growing effect on…

Since the ending of the second World War in 1945, political and technological advancements have allowed a global trade and economic system on a wider scale than the time of the Industrial revolution with its steamships and telegraphs. (Reilly 1089-190) It has been stated that globalization since the Cold War in 1989, is largely a product of the capitalism which begin dates back to the middle 19th century. An aspect of this global capitalism is global integration that has prominently been driven…

two, a change, or a variation in lens, has occurred (373). Philosophical engagement has been a driving force in the recent consideration of consumerism, and how it relates to modernity and, arguably, its disappearance. Despite the possible disappearance of philosophical factors in consumer culture “the centrality of consumption to modern capitalism and contemporary culture”(Trentmann 373) is still very much thriving. He notes that many thinkers, such as Sombart, Durkheim, and Veblen thought…

The Effects of American Consumerism America, the land of the free! Americans are a proud people. We have fought wars for freedom and for the rights of the people. Yet, are we really so free, and at what cost to others? The steady rise in consumerism has created a devastating effect not only on our every day lives but on a global level. The Great Depression of the 1930s affected people of varying statuses, both the rich and poor. It mirrored a time of unemployment, poverty, and a drop in…

Consumerism in the United States among young people, specifically below thirty years, has been a subject of research by many scholars over the years. From a sociological standpoint, consumerism has been explored by some of the most renowned sociologists such as Thorstein Veblen and Bourdieu. These two sociologists sought to understand and explain consumer behavior during their lifetime and maintained that their sociological theories regarding consumerism were bound to persist in the future.…

Consumerism generally plays a major role in the lifestyles of people in today’s society. Often, people value consumerism over religion due to the secularization of society. Society today has prioritized consumerism before religion, though not to the extent as seen in the novel Brave New World. Religion is entirely banned, and in replacement is the figurehead Henry Ford. Society is built on the notion that consumerism is necessary for the function of the World State. The citizens of World…