HIST289R ESSAY #1 – Flashcards

-General stores would cater their products to the specific community that they were selling to. -Department stores made consumption an experience/pasttime for people, and modeled their stores to entice unnecessary consumption -Chain stores have increased consumerism by providing products at a lower cost, but much more in bulk. In providing cheaper products, the products are often of lesser quality, and come with obsolescence. -as the concept of the store has evolved over the past century, consumption has increased along with environmental degradation - consumer products became much more readily available -Places of consumption foster gender stereotyping that are further emphasized by social pressure.

-created prevalent and impenetrable niches in the united states that inhibited many democratic rights of ethnic groups. -on other side, helped spur change by giving all people purchasing power, and in turn political power (boycotts, etc) -Different consumer laws have developed overtime, however much of the consumer marketplace has become oligopolistic, as large chains eradicate the general store -I think the easiest argument here would be to say that as a result of consumers creating change through Greensboro sit ins, UFW Boycotts, the Fair trade label, the increased pressure for large businesses such as mcdonalds and walmart to alter various practices that the market place can be in fact described as democratic. -Consumer market place during the 1900s to 2000s created prevalent and impenetrable niches in the united states that inhibited many democratic rights of ethnic groups

-Edenton tea party in 1770s where a group of women gathered to boycott british tea products in response to the tea act -talk about race being included in early aunt jemima advertisements -that most advertisements for any home product in the early to mid 1900s (food, appliances,cleaning agents, etc) were catered to women because they were at home while their husbands were working -Dont Buy Where You Cant Work campaigns forced many stores to either desegregate their employment or go out of business -that from 1940-1970, more and more stores were being boycotted because of their segregation practices (greensboro sitins almost put woolworth dept. stores out of business) -that today, our world is so responsive to any racially charged language or sexually inclusive language and this is evident in advertisements -The wide spread influence of media furthered the separate and unique experiences amongst different races and genders

-High demand in the large American market place calls for variation and abundance which in turn drives the desire for finding cheaper options that often require outsourcing. -technology spread through outsourcing, import and export purchases -as america continues to consume more and more, we have so much left over goods that end up in countries across the globe (salaula in zambia) -that as american consumption continues, there is more opportunity for factories and jobs internationally to produce for us -in producing for us and seeing what we consume, the people of these countries are more inclined to globalize -Walmart is the worlds largest employer, mcdonalds is second largest. Both can be found on every continent besides antactica, which i still have no idea why they count that shit as a continent -goods used to be tradeable while knowledge, work, and services werent; -High demand in the large American market place calls for variation and abundance which in turn drives the desire for finding cheaper options that often require outsourcing

-shift from intimate advertising to advertising to the mass consumer society Methods of advertising have changed to be more deceitful which as a result lead to the continuance of consumer naivety. -niche markets have been established -"The culture of advertising": focus less on the product being sold and more on the consumer who will do the buying exploiting public insecurities listerine advertising budget went from 100k to 5 million in 6 years in the 1920's began to focus on women as "purchasing agent" 80-85% of retain buying -perceived obsolescence has created a culture that believes they need a new product or need to consume to keep up with various fads. ie "needing" the iphone 6 because it is slightly faster than the iphone 5 -Now: product placement

sit ins, boycotts *biggest one* using buying ability to assert their status in society, they are members and deserve to be treated as them! don't buy where you can't work WW2: buying bonds, recycling in order to back up the war effort -The independence and consumer choice provided while going through a transaction acts as political speech. -buying or boycotting certain products and services for political reasons can take on significance. -Some of them use business targets to voice criticism of government actions. Other consumer boycotts focus specifically on the policies and practices of corporations. -Shell has been repeatedly targeted because of its environmental practices and human rights policy in Nigeria as well as its use of oil tankers that do not conform to international safety standards -"Bigger than a burger" by Ella baker; sit ins and demonstrations are a symbol for a larger issue, "seeking to rid America of the scourge of racial segregation and discrimination — not only at lunch counters, but in every aspect of life." -Labeling schemes for organic food, fair-trade products, environmentally friendly products and production methods, and ethical banking are examples of this positive face of "political consumerism" -LA riots: sit ins and boycotts used at 17 Woolworth and Kress stores, both stores who practiced segregation in the south; "refusal to patronize these stores in areas outside the south will serve to impress upon the owners" LA TIMES -Kitchen Debate

-Consumer culture has helped to establish class and wealth differences, identities - style became more important, people can now express themselves through things they purchase, wear, use -9 billions dollars in hot little hands: whole industries devoted to making a particular population segment happy, conforming to group identities becoming more important -some critics argue that consumerism has destroyed genuine individuality, as it has led to homogenous mass markets - the way you dress, the way you decorate your home, and the range of your hobbies express a nascent identity, allow you to take it for a test drive, and provide pathways for changing it in a kind of ongoing identity feedback loop -Buying experiences also shapes identities- restaurant expenditures aren't just food, they fuel social gatherings. Vacations aren't just plane tickets, they're memories to anticipate and then treasure. zoot suits conspicuous consumption houses: keeping up with the jones's vance packard: materialism is a status Critique: producer ethic that valued meaningful work over empty leisure? yuppies

-Strasser examines an essential but neglected part of the consumer culture -- the trash it produces -- and finds in it an unexpected wealth of meaning. Before the 20th century, trash was nearly nonexistent. Paints a vivid picture of an America where everything possible was reused: scavenger pigs roamed the streets, children collected kitchen garbage, and peddlers traded manufactured goods for rags and bones. Over the last hundred years, however, Americans have become hooked on disposability, fashion, and constant technological change, and the rise of mass consumption has led to waste on a previously unimaginable scale

-redlining: denying, or charging more for, services such as banking, insurance, access to health care, or even supermarkets, or denying jobs to residents in particular, often racially determined, areas. -created a larger, healthier middle class but at the same time the rich were making more than ever and the disparity of wealth was growing faster than previously Minorities weren't able to partake in a lot of consumer goods Corporations did not care who bought their products, just as long as they were being sold Domesticity : men made the money, women spent it 1890-1940 ? advertisements embraced stereotypes to sell their products logic to emotion appeals Race, gender were main targets blackface, women being housewives "construction of whiteness"

-many minorities, women, had purchasing power before they had political, social power

-The Diggers (Activists from San Fran in the 1960s)- presented an alternative to the capitalistic consumer model by providing free food, medical care, transport, and temporary housing to impoverished residents of the city. Also opened stores where you could take what you want and leave what you want. -Betty Friedman (feminist and author from 1940s-1980s)- wrote many books that criticized the portrayal of women in media and advertising. Provided alternatives through the creation of women empowerment groups, which had much more influence on society and the upbringing of women -Black Activism (Don't buy where you cant work in the 1930-50s/ Greensboro sit in in the 1960s)- boycotted businesses and refused to give business to a store that upheld segregation, forcing many stores to close or desegregate -UFW Boycotts (Bonding of filipino and hispanic minorities, led by cesar chavez)- many farm workers from the grape growing regions of the west stopped working and stood strong for a five year period. People from across the country assisted by not purchasing grapes to back the boycott. Forced the employers to improve working conditions and wages for many minority groups -Continuities= the consumer still has power, especially when acting as a united consumer front. The employee has power, especially when acting in a united front. -Differences= employment rates for minorities and women are more at focus now than ever. environmental consumerism is more evident now than in the past