Consumer Society Essay

1421 Words6 Pages
consumer society is characterised by freedom of choice Explore the claim that consumer society is characterised by freedom of choice. Societies and the intricate systems within them have shaped peoples way of life for centuries. Recently with the shift from an industrial society, people have become less concerned with traditional status and more inclined to create their identities within society through self expression. With this comes a shift in society, and within that a change in the economy and environment. People are beginning to crave the possession of items that perhaps were not once necessary. Items once deemed a luxury are increasingly becoming considered essential for everyday life. However it is not just those that consume who are creating a new culture, it is the ever growing numbers of retailers, outlets, and shopping centres being built across the country that are feeding the demands of the consumers. The first part of this essay will aim to explore the characteristics of a consumer society, the divisions created, and the choices available. The second part will take into consideration the role and power of the four big supermarkets (Tesco, Sainsbury, Asda and Morrison’s) and how they offer choice to people. With the recent shift from an industrial society to a consumer one, people’s way of life and how they choose to define themselves has begun to change. Being able to walk into a shopping centre or a supermarket and choose from a large array of the same product, allows us to adopt a particular lifestyle and choose our identities and how we wish to be perceived by others. Consuming in the UK in the past was only really on offer to the wealthy with a surplus income. However with the shifts in living costs and development in technologies, people are able to shape their way of life as they so wish, defining their status
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