Tma 2
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- Category: Science
- Date Submitted: 02/06/2011 06:46 AM
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Who are the winners and losers in a consumer society? TMA2
In this assignment I am going to outline who are the winners and losers in a consumer society. I am going to focus mostly on the power that big supermarkets, such as Asda and Tesco, have on the way we shop and also how socialisation, lifestyle and status has changed the way we shop.
First of all, I am going to explain what a consumer society is. A consumer society is a society in which buying services and mass produced goods is seen to be extremely important. It promises choice and freedom to those who, because of their financial and social circumstances, are in a position to consume effectively. (Zygmunt Bauman, Making Social Lives, Chapter 1, page 25). It has become a major preoccupation for most people in our society.(Making Social Lives, 2009, Chapter 1, Page 13). It is seen to be important for a number of different reasons for different people. There are a number of different factors that influence the way we shop. Income, advertising, peer pressure and social reputation are, in my opinion, the main reasons for excessive shopping.
Consumer habits have changed dramatically over the years. Years ago only the rich, professional, upper class people in society had cars and mobile phones as they had disposable income and could afford to have luxuries whereas, fast-forward to the present times, and nearly everyone has a mobile phone and nearly every household has a car, some even have two or even three cars. I think this is due to the fact that credit is so easy to come by, so more middle class people, who may not have a disposable income, are getting a chance to participate in what is now classed as a consumer society. I feel the lives of the lower class people have stayed the same. Lower class people, who might not have access to credit and who's income might not stretch to buying anything other than necessity's, I feel will be left out of this new consumer society.
I agree with social scientist...
In this assignment I am going to outline who are the winners and losers in a consumer society. I am going to focus mostly on the power that big supermarkets, such as Asda and Tesco, have on the way we shop and also how socialisation, lifestyle and status has changed the way we shop.
First of all, I am going to explain what a consumer society is. A consumer society is a society in which buying services and mass produced goods is seen to be extremely important. It promises choice and freedom to those who, because of their financial and social circumstances, are in a position to consume effectively. (Zygmunt Bauman, Making Social Lives, Chapter 1, page 25). It has become a major preoccupation for most people in our society.(Making Social Lives, 2009, Chapter 1, Page 13). It is seen to be important for a number of different reasons for different people. There are a number of different factors that influence the way we shop. Income, advertising, peer pressure and social reputation are, in my opinion, the main reasons for excessive shopping.
Consumer habits have changed dramatically over the years. Years ago only the rich, professional, upper class people in society had cars and mobile phones as they had disposable income and could afford to have luxuries whereas, fast-forward to the present times, and nearly everyone has a mobile phone and nearly every household has a car, some even have two or even three cars. I think this is due to the fact that credit is so easy to come by, so more middle class people, who may not have a disposable income, are getting a chance to participate in what is now classed as a consumer society. I feel the lives of the lower class people have stayed the same. Lower class people, who might not have access to credit and who's income might not stretch to buying anything other than necessity's, I feel will be left out of this new consumer society.
I agree with social scientist...