Comm 101 Tutorial 4A
Week 9 Tutorial: Ethics of Consumption (Assessed)
Readings:
Shaw et. al. (2013), Chapter 5: The Morality and Ethics of Consumption. Textbook Reading: Why Do We Consume So Much, by Juliet Schor, pp.258-66.
Task for students
Once you have read the textbook chapter and the Reading, answer discussion questions 1, 3- 5 (ignore questions 2 and 6).
Q1. Who is the “we” in the question “Why do we consume so much?” Is Juliet Schor correct that “there is increasingly little that we do which is not a consumption experience”? And that we have become a culture of excessive consumption? Explain your answers.
The “we” in the question “why do we consume so much?” is stands for the majority of Americans those whose basic needs are met, who have discretionary income, the large middle classes whose standard of living has risen so dramatically over this century.
Juliet Schor is correct that “there is increasingly little that we do which is not a consumption experience”. For example, the average American home has increased by more than 50% since 1970s and the number of vehicles per person has increased.
And we have become a culture of excessive consumption due to $20,000 outdoor grills, $17,000 birthday parties for teen girls FAO Schwartz, diamond studded bras at Victoria Secrets, professional appliances for people not home to cook, designer clothes for 6 year olds as well as $1000 bed sheets.
Q3. Explain why Schor believes that “more leisured. Less consumerist lifestyles are structurally blocked”. Why can’t people simply choose to work less and enjoy more free time? Do you agree that working long hours encourages people to consume more?
Schor believes that “more leisure, less consumerist lifestyles is structurally blocked” because we are undermining our quality of life, we fail to take enough leisure, and live excessively busy and stressful lives.
People cannot simply choose to work less and enjoy more free time because the employers set work norms and schedules, and
Readings:
Shaw et. al. (2013), Chapter 5: The Morality and Ethics of Consumption. Textbook Reading: Why Do We Consume So Much, by Juliet Schor, pp.258-66.
Task for students
Once you have read the textbook chapter and the Reading, answer discussion questions 1, 3- 5 (ignore questions 2 and 6).
Q1. Who is the “we” in the question “Why do we consume so much?” Is Juliet Schor correct that “there is increasingly little that we do which is not a consumption experience”? And that we have become a culture of excessive consumption? Explain your answers.
The “we” in the question “why do we consume so much?” is stands for the majority of Americans those whose basic needs are met, who have discretionary income, the large middle classes whose standard of living has risen so dramatically over this century.
Juliet Schor is correct that “there is increasingly little that we do which is not a consumption experience”. For example, the average American home has increased by more than 50% since 1970s and the number of vehicles per person has increased.
And we have become a culture of excessive consumption due to $20,000 outdoor grills, $17,000 birthday parties for teen girls FAO Schwartz, diamond studded bras at Victoria Secrets, professional appliances for people not home to cook, designer clothes for 6 year olds as well as $1000 bed sheets.
Q3. Explain why Schor believes that “more leisured. Less consumerist lifestyles are structurally blocked”. Why can’t people simply choose to work less and enjoy more free time? Do you agree that working long hours encourages people to consume more?
Schor believes that “more leisure, less consumerist lifestyles is structurally blocked” because we are undermining our quality of life, we fail to take enough leisure, and live excessively busy and stressful lives.
People cannot simply choose to work less and enjoy more free time because the employers set work norms and schedules, and