Inequality Constraints Consumer Society

Question: ‘Describe the argument that inequality constraints a consumer society'
Introduction

The term ‘Consumer society’ is a post-industrial label used to refer to a society where individuals are defined by the goods and services they consume. (Allen, 2014, p. 121). Social scientist Zygmunt Bauman (1988) believes that “A consumer society promises choice and freedom to those who, because of their financial and social circumstances, are able to consume effectively”. This theory suggests that inevitably those without the means to consume effectively will not enjoy the same freedom and choices as others producing differences and inequalities.
This essay will first focus on creating identities and Susman’s performing self secondly will explore

In lower classes their identities were defined by their social status or job role e.g. Coal Miner, Farmer, Seamstress. There was very little in the way of hobbies or interests to characterise an individual. It was only the very affluent, the upper classes and the higher paid working classes such as doctors, bankers, and lawyers who were able to distinguish themselves as consumers by the indulgent lifestyles they lived. The upper class would buy items not just for usefulness but also as a way to display their rank and status amongst society with things like porcelain, silver, tea and fine clothes. This particular way of spending is theorized by social scientists as being conspicuous consumption (book) but was exclusive to the upper class. This is an early emergence of consumer society, however, only limited within the upper class due to the restrictions of their role in society. Modern consumer society defines a person by the goods and services they consume but is inclusive of all roles in society. Due to inequalities of poverty this constrains the ability for everyone to participate in this type of society. This constrains society as we cannot achieve the ideal that consumer activity can be a means to creative self-expression and

The demand for cheap clothing to large retailers utilising offshore resources not only hurts small businesses and local dressmakers but also hurts the people who are paid poorly and are forced to work in horrible dangerous conditions in order to make the clothing.
Bangladesh factory fires in video the high price shows the poor conditions garment workers must endure and the daily risks they make turning up for work that barely cover their living cost. We can also see that the UK businesses are outsourcing garment production to poor town and villages in poor countries in figure 6.8 typical global supply chain for garment production. This constrains society as to keep up with consumer society as it is very difficult to avoid buying products that have these connections with poverty and abuse in oversees countries