Critical consumerism
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Critical consumption is the conscious choice to buy or not buy a product because of ethical and political beliefs. The critical consumer considers characteristics of the product and its realization, such as environmental sustainability and respect of workers’ rights. Critical consumers take responsibility for the environmental, social, and political effects of their choices. The critical consumer sympathizes with certain social movement goals and contributes towards them by modifying their consumption behavior.
Analysis of critical consumption uses different terms to refer to boycotting and buycotting actions. These include ethical consumption[1] and political consumerism,[2] and sustainable consumption, which is more linked with policy.[3]
Often consumer and citizen are considered[who?] as different because consumers only show self-interest, whereas citizens denote expanded self-interest. The general idea is that, consumers buy what they want—or what they have been persuaded to want—within the limits of what they can get.[4] Citizenship, on the other hand, carries duties or responsibilities along with various rights.[5] Since consumers are seen also as citizens they have to behave in a community-oriented, moral and political way, rather than as a self-interested one.