Comments on: Hyper-Consumerism And The New (Upper-Middle Class?) Parent http://thesocietypages.org/socimages/2009/06/02/hyper-consumerism-and-the-new-upper-middle-class-parent/ Sociological Images encourages people to exercise and develop their sociological imaginations with discussions of compelling visuals that span the breadth of sociological inquiry. Thu, 09 Feb 2012 09:12:00 +0000 hourly 1 By: Well http://thesocietypages.org/socimages/2009/06/02/hyper-consumerism-and-the-new-upper-middle-class-parent/comment-page-1/#comment-501641 Well Sun, 15 May 2011 21:50:13 +0000 http://thesocietypages.org/socimages/?p=9434#comment-501641 What are "those values"? If it were really about self-presentation, parents could teach their children how to make their own clothes, how to develop an inner radiance, how to use body language, how to excel in interviews, or how to find gems at thrift stores. Better yet, they could teach their children to take the silver spoon out of their mouth and feed the hungry. These are all more productive uses of the time and money IMO. If you think the "value" of shopping benefits the individual rather than corporations, you should see this BBC zdocumentary about the development of government and corporate propaganda, Century of the Self: http://www.freedocumentaries.org/film.php?id=140 http://www.freedocumentaries.org/int.php?filmID=141 http://www.freedocumentaries.org/int.php?filmID=142 http://www.freedocumentaries.org/int.php?filmID=143 What are “those values”? If it were really about self-presentation, parents could teach their children how to make their own clothes, how to develop an inner radiance, how to use body language, how to excel in interviews, or how to find gems at thrift stores. Better yet, they could teach their children to take the silver spoon out of their mouth and feed the hungry. These are all more productive uses of the time and money IMO.

If you think the “value” of shopping benefits the individual rather than corporations, you should see this BBC zdocumentary about the development of government and corporate propaganda, Century of the Self:

http://www.freedocumentaries.org/film.php?id=140
http://www.freedocumentaries.org/int.php?filmID=141
http://www.freedocumentaries.org/int.php?filmID=142
http://www.freedocumentaries.org/int.php?filmID=143

]]> By: My Pretty Princess Purse (UPDATE!) » Sociological Images http://thesocietypages.org/socimages/2009/06/02/hyper-consumerism-and-the-new-upper-middle-class-parent/comment-page-1/#comment-151022 My Pretty Princess Purse (UPDATE!) » Sociological Images Thu, 26 Nov 2009 09:22:08 +0000 http://thesocietypages.org/socimages/?p=9434#comment-151022 [...] here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, and here. 18 Comments Tags: children/youth, gender, gender: beauty, gender: [...] [...] here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, and here. 18 Comments Tags: children/youth, gender, gender: beauty, gender: [...]

]]> By: Consuming Kids: The Commercialization of Childhood » Sociological Images http://thesocietypages.org/socimages/2009/06/02/hyper-consumerism-and-the-new-upper-middle-class-parent/comment-page-1/#comment-110788 Consuming Kids: The Commercialization of Childhood » Sociological Images Sat, 12 Sep 2009 17:18:52 +0000 http://thesocietypages.org/socimages/?p=9434#comment-110788 [...] also hyper-consumerism and parenting, girl culture, girls’ shirts encourage materialism, “born to shop” pacifier, kids [...] [...] also hyper-consumerism and parenting, girl culture, girls’ shirts encourage materialism, “born to shop” pacifier, kids [...]

]]> By: Teresa http://thesocietypages.org/socimages/2009/06/02/hyper-consumerism-and-the-new-upper-middle-class-parent/comment-page-1/#comment-49803 Teresa Sat, 06 Jun 2009 02:45:48 +0000 http://thesocietypages.org/socimages/?p=9434#comment-49803 Anyone read "So Sexy So Soon" or had a look at the Campaign for a Commercial Free Childhood at www.commercialfreechildhood.org? Kawaikunai, you might find these shed some light on the issues with turning our children into mini adult consumers obsessed with being objects of desire. Anyone read “So Sexy So Soon” or had a look at the Campaign for a Commercial Free Childhood at http://www.commercialfreechildhood.org?

Kawaikunai, you might find these shed some light on the issues with turning our children into mini adult consumers obsessed with being objects of desire.

]]> By: Redhead Metalhead http://thesocietypages.org/socimages/2009/06/02/hyper-consumerism-and-the-new-upper-middle-class-parent/comment-page-1/#comment-49505 Redhead Metalhead Fri, 05 Jun 2009 16:22:31 +0000 http://thesocietypages.org/socimages/?p=9434#comment-49505 My parents tried to get me to wear "pretty" clothes when I was little. Thanks to influence from my girlfriend and her parents, I'd grown to dislike that stuff. Now I've gone my own path: black, skulls, flames, leather jackets, etc. Regardless, they did buy me way too many pairs of clothes. I didn't even get to wear everything they got for me. My parents tried to get me to wear “pretty” clothes when I was little. Thanks to influence from my girlfriend and her parents, I’d grown to dislike that stuff. Now I’ve gone my own path: black, skulls, flames, leather jackets, etc.

Regardless, they did buy me way too many pairs of clothes. I didn’t even get to wear everything they got for me.

]]> By: lucy http://thesocietypages.org/socimages/2009/06/02/hyper-consumerism-and-the-new-upper-middle-class-parent/comment-page-1/#comment-49150 lucy Fri, 05 Jun 2009 03:15:28 +0000 http://thesocietypages.org/socimages/?p=9434#comment-49150 I thought tweens were close to teenagers. What happened to just kids? I thought tweens were close to teenagers. What happened to just kids?

]]> By: StephenW http://thesocietypages.org/socimages/2009/06/02/hyper-consumerism-and-the-new-upper-middle-class-parent/comment-page-1/#comment-48357 StephenW Wed, 03 Jun 2009 22:18:52 +0000 http://thesocietypages.org/socimages/?p=9434#comment-48357 I continually talk to my daughter about what defines her as a valuable individual. She is bombarded with messages from games, advertising, "friends", tv, that strive to define her for their purposes - like the businesses in this vid. Age 9, she's told how to attract boys and begins to think she understands relationships and sex. She'd objectified by others and ultimately may view herself according to such performance. It saddens me to see individuality and purpose forgotten to this meaningless conformity, "conventional wisdom" as the vid called it. I continually talk to my daughter about what defines her as a valuable individual. She is bombarded with messages from games, advertising, “friends”, tv, that strive to define her for their purposes – like the businesses in this vid. Age 9, she’s told how to attract boys and begins to think she understands relationships and sex. She’d objectified by others and ultimately may view herself according to such performance. It saddens me to see individuality and purpose forgotten to this meaningless conformity, “conventional wisdom” as the vid called it.

]]> By: Ellen http://thesocietypages.org/socimages/2009/06/02/hyper-consumerism-and-the-new-upper-middle-class-parent/comment-page-1/#comment-47738 Ellen Wed, 03 Jun 2009 05:14:10 +0000 http://thesocietypages.org/socimages/?p=9434#comment-47738 those are very good values to instill. Buy more crap that you don't need. those are very good values to instill. Buy more crap that you don’t need.

]]> By: Kawaikunai http://thesocietypages.org/socimages/2009/06/02/hyper-consumerism-and-the-new-upper-middle-class-parent/comment-page-1/#comment-47585 Kawaikunai Wed, 03 Jun 2009 00:12:36 +0000 http://thesocietypages.org/socimages/?p=9434#comment-47585 The thing with children is that one day they grow up to be fully-functional adults. To these parents, fashion is obviously important, and it does have societal benefits (in the workplace, in finding a mate, etc.). So, aren't these parents simply trying to instill those values in their children from a (very) young age? The thing with children is that one day they grow up to be fully-functional adults. To these parents, fashion is obviously important, and it does have societal benefits (in the workplace, in finding a mate, etc.). So, aren’t these parents simply trying to instill those values in their children from a (very) young age?

]]> By: Maggie http://thesocietypages.org/socimages/2009/06/02/hyper-consumerism-and-the-new-upper-middle-class-parent/comment-page-1/#comment-47574 Maggie Tue, 02 Jun 2009 23:55:57 +0000 http://thesocietypages.org/socimages/?p=9434#comment-47574 lol John. I thought the same thing. lol John. I thought the same thing.

]]> By: opminded http://thesocietypages.org/socimages/2009/06/02/hyper-consumerism-and-the-new-upper-middle-class-parent/comment-page-1/#comment-47430 opminded Tue, 02 Jun 2009 19:52:57 +0000 http://thesocietypages.org/socimages/?p=9434#comment-47430 That wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be. Most of those folks are small businesspeople trying to catch on and grow their companies. I'm not one to spend much on kids clothes, but for those folks who are into clothing I'd imagine high-end clothes for their kids aren't much of a stretch. Also I'd rather see them spend it with small companies like those featured here rather than at larger luxury corporations. That wasn’t as bad as I thought it was going to be. Most of those folks are small businesspeople trying to catch on and grow their companies. I’m not one to spend much on kids clothes, but for those folks who are into clothing I’d imagine high-end clothes for their kids aren’t much of a stretch. Also I’d rather see them spend it with small companies like those featured here rather than at larger luxury corporations.

]]> By: Kheret http://thesocietypages.org/socimages/2009/06/02/hyper-consumerism-and-the-new-upper-middle-class-parent/comment-page-1/#comment-47338 Kheret Tue, 02 Jun 2009 17:14:20 +0000 http://thesocietypages.org/socimages/?p=9434#comment-47338 When I think about the children who don't have healthy food to eat or clothes to keep them warm, this sort of thing makes me physically ill. When I think about the children who don’t have healthy food to eat or clothes to keep them warm, this sort of thing makes me physically ill.

]]> By: Rosemary http://thesocietypages.org/socimages/2009/06/02/hyper-consumerism-and-the-new-upper-middle-class-parent/comment-page-1/#comment-47329 Rosemary Tue, 02 Jun 2009 16:56:58 +0000 http://thesocietypages.org/socimages/?p=9434#comment-47329 That is unspeakably creepy. If people want things to accessorize to themselves they should get a poodle. My mother saw a bit of this and commented that when I was little she never did that to me. *shiver* That is unspeakably creepy. If people want things to accessorize to themselves they should get a poodle. My mother saw a bit of this and commented that when I was little she never did that to me. *shiver*

]]> By: John http://thesocietypages.org/socimages/2009/06/02/hyper-consumerism-and-the-new-upper-middle-class-parent/comment-page-1/#comment-47299 John Tue, 02 Jun 2009 15:49:05 +0000 http://thesocietypages.org/socimages/?p=9434#comment-47299 I started to get hopeful when the woman said she was tired of cupcakes and princesses, then she revealed that her response was to design clothing with leopard print... I started to get hopeful when the woman said she was tired of cupcakes and princesses, then she revealed that her response was to design clothing with leopard print…

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