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Consumed: How We Buy Class in Modern Britain

Damon Hayes

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Consumed: How We Buy Class in Modern Britain

In a society increasingly divided by class, consumption has become a key way of signaling our status and belonging. In Consumed: How We Buy Class in Modern Britain, sociologist Sarah Banet-Weiser explores the relationship between consumption and class in modern Britain. Based on extensive research, the book argues that consumption is not simply a matter of buying and owning things, but is also a way of constructing and expressing our identities.

Consumed: How We Buy Class in Modern Britain

by Harry Wallop

4.5 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	1102 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	337 pages

The Rise of Consumer Culture

The rise of consumer culture in Britain can be traced back to the Victorian era, when the Industrial Revolution led to a dramatic increase in the production of goods. This, in turn, led to a shift in focus from production to consumption, as people began to spend more time and money on buying and owning things.

The rise of consumer culture was also fueled by the development of new technologies, such as the department store and the mail-Free Download catalog. These technologies made it easier for people to buy goods from a wider range of sources, and they also helped to create a sense of desire and aspiration among consumers.

As consumer culture became more widespread, it began to have a significant impact on the way people thought about themselves and their place in society. Consumption became a way of expressing one's identity and status, and it also became a way of signaling one's membership in a particular social group.

Class and Consumption

In Consumed, Banet-Weiser argues that consumption is not simply a matter of personal choice, but is also shaped by our social class. She shows how different social classes have different patterns of consumption, and how these patterns are used to create and maintain social distinctions.

For example, Banet-Weiser shows how working-class consumers tend to spend more of their money on basic necessities, such as food and housing, while middle-class consumers tend to spend more of their money on luxury goods, such as cars and vacations. She also shows how different social classes have different tastes in food, clothing, and entertainment.

Banet-Weiser's research shows that consumption is a key way of signaling our class status and belonging. By understanding the relationship between consumption and class, we can better understand the ways in which social inequality is reproduced and maintained.

Consumed: How We Buy Class in Modern Britain is a fascinating exploration of the relationship between consumption and class in modern Britain. Based on extensive research, the book argues that consumption is not simply a matter of buying and owning things, but is also a way of constructing and expressing our identities. In a society increasingly divided by class, consumption has become a key way of signaling our status and belonging.

Consumed is a must-read for anyone interested in the sociology of consumption, class, or identity. It is a timely and important book that sheds new light on the ways in which we buy class in modern Britain.

Consumed: How We Buy Class in Modern Britain

by Harry Wallop

4.5 out of 5