User:Jodi.a.schneider/Internalized Consumerism

Internalized consumerism occurs when individuals identify as consumers. This may be considered a social problem.

"We have replaced the model of 'citizen' with the model of 'consumer'. The citizen model encouraged group involvement, debate and community. The consumer model encourages immediate gratification and personal indulgence. It replaces the real empowerment of civic engagement with a fantasy of empowerment through consumer products."

In the words of Dennis Redmoon Darkeem, “Our society has internalized consumerism and pop culture [so much so that our society] equates personal happiness with materialistic goods..." . Ilya Winham writes, "Democratic man’s entire culture has internalized consumerism to such a degree that individuals lack the psychological wherewithal to create enjoyment for themselves." Dean Terry has also commented that consumerism has become like a religion, "And if consumerism is our new religion, one aspect is conspicuously absent: the ethical one. We shop without considering the larger ramifications of our purchases. How and where was this product made? Who and what am I supporting by paying for this thing? How are the workers treated? ...We are encouraged to isolate the buying experience into how it will make us feel in the moment and to ignore the larger effects."

Internalized consumerism has been called a form of Internalized oppression. . With internalized consumerism people begin to believe stereotypes that "more is better" and other oppressive views promoted in advertising.