DANINA MABEL M.

LIM MARCH 7, 2021

OTFH 1 NSTP

SOCIAL ANALYSIS

1. Based on the presentation and video, "The Story of Stuff" what is CONSUMERISM and how do you
think, consumerism change the world we live today?

– The ability to own and purchase products and commodities in excess of one's basic
needs is known as consumerism. The term "basic needs" usually refers to providing enough
food, clothes, and shelter. It entails buyers being aware of their rights in seeking protection from
merchants who treat them unfairly or take advantage of them. Many references to
consumerism, on the other hand, apply to people purchasing products.

The word consumerism is used in economics to describe policies that promote

consumption. Advertisements, discounts, product launches, product giveaways, and other
promotions are all used to motivate consumers to spend money on products and services on a
regular basis in a consumerist society.

In many economically developing nations, consumerism is rampant. The mass

production of consumer goods, the flooding of media with advertising and promotions for
advertised products and services, and even increasing personal debt levels all indicate that more
people are overspending on goods.

Consumerism provides advantages that people could benefit from, such as the
economic growth. Consumerism is the engine that propels the economy forward. The economy
expands as people spend more on goods and services generated in a never-ending loop. There is
more consumption as a result of increased output and employment. People's living standards
are also expected to rise as a result of consumerism. It also boosts innovation and creativity.
Producers/manufacturers are constantly under pressure to innovate because customers are
actively searching for the next best products/services to purchase. Living standards rise as
consumers gain access to better products and services.

On the other hand, it also has its downside. Demand for commodities is increasing,
putting a strain on natural resources like water and raw materials. Consumption of energy is also
a function of consumerism. Consumerism also promotes the use of chemicals that have been
linked to environmental degradation. In a nutshell, consumerism causes more environmental
damage than good. Moreover, growing consumerism has a tendency to pull communities away
from essential principles like honesty. Instead, a heavy emphasis is placed on materialism and
rivalry. People prefer to buy products and services they don't need in order to keep up with or
outperform their peers. Thus, it raises a society's debt rate. The number of people taking out
 short-term loans, such as payday loans, to purchase expensive items has skyrocketed. Today,
many short-term loans aren't being put to good use.

Consumerism has both positive and negative aspects. While consumerism promotes
economic growth and creativity, it is not without its drawbacks, which range from
environmental and moral destruction to increased debt and mental health issues. Given that we
still live in a consumerist world, striking a healthy balance is recommended.

2. How will you relate yourself with consumerism? Give specific examples.

– I can relate to consumerism by means of obsession with shopping and acquiring stuff. I am really
used to buying things that I need and sometimes I can be an impulsive buyer, acquiring stuff that
I don’t really need, in which sometimes the things I bought would just be stacked in my room’s
cabinet until I don’t remember having it anymore. There are times that I get too attached to
materialistic possessions that I often neglect its true value. Consumerism is indeed imperative to
our culture’s paradigm. I used to be mindful of what I bought until not anymore.

3. What simple things/ tasks you can do as a Benildean Lasallian to advocate for a more critical analysis
in our society today?

– As a student and an individual who belongs to a generation where advanced technologies exist, I
can use the power of social media towards advocating for a more analytical study in our modern
society. Social networking has been pervasive and is widely regarded as beneficial to society.
Despite recent studies on the use of social media for educational purposes, little is known about
their position in higher education civic engagement. By using my voice to spread awareness
regarding the dilemma that our society is currently facing, I could be able to help a lot of people
to get knowledge that they deserve. Furthermore, volunteering for a local group working to
convey awareness to global poverty would be such a practical move. These little things could
bring a bigger change towards the upliftment of our drowning society due to the aggravating
situations that have been circulating around.

References:

Baker, M. (2019, December 20). What are the advantages and disadvantages of performance appraisal
methods? https://www.pesync.com/what-are-the-advantages-and-disadvantages-of-
performance-appraisal-methods.html#:~:text=Paired%20Comparison%20is%20quick%20and,all
%20employees%20to%20one%20another.