- Iron cage of consumerism
“Those who cannot win trophies and medals, they create status symbols for themselves.”
(Amit Kalantri)
I don’t understand all the fuss about status symbols and most importantly what do people do especially our youth to have these status symbols? Status symbols create social strain among people which ultimately encourages adolescents to commit crime; let me explain you first what status symbol means. Status symbol means “something, such as a possession or an activity”, by which one’s social or economic prestige is measured. Overtime, status symbols have been many and varied and they vary across cultures. Status symbols vary across generations and specific age groups as well.
Pakistani society has evolved from its deep cultural roots; being a part of the British colony of United India. The British left but imparted their life style, trends, language and culture on Pakistanis. So the imported status symbols of today’s Pakistani society are ‘money based’. Money is the most important status symbol that brings with it Italian and Spanish houses, imported cars, branded clothes, accessories, top notch universities, private schools for the upper class kids that ensure accented English and the list never ends. The various status symbols in today’s Pakistani society revolve around basic human needs, of food, shelter and clothing, that are not simple necessities anymore but have emerged as status symbols of our society. Today our youth is compelled to follow this so called lifestyle because they feel inferiority complex and fall a victim to peer pressure.
Expensive and branded mobiles, clothes, watches, sunglasses, shoes, cars, luxury villas or vast mansions; visiting latest hotels and eat not to satisfy the palate but to impress others, these are the status symbols of today’s society. An adolescent who is not socially stable, pressurised by social strain, contrives and innovates ways to compete the society. He would lie, steal, forge and brag to build that social status to be socially accepted and embraced. We have examples around us of youths crossing limits, committing crimes to earn extra ‘pocket money’; like selling drugs, stealing mobile phones on bikes, stealing cars, joining bullies or becoming a part of underground rackets.
Society is us, so it is we who place undue emphasis on these so called lifestyles, this cult of status. We have become a materialistic and capitalist society that revolves around money.
Man’s worth is measured by his money, a house in Defence, an automatic car, foreign visa and bank accounts. The upper class competes yet to attain the best and the highest, this status consciousness filters to the middle class and to the lower middle class. Thus the pressure point is the lower middle or below poverty line class that competes to achieve somehow the lifestyle that is socially accepted.
We live in a society that is strongly influenced by media. Movies, dramas and the entertainment industry manifest glamour and luxury. Soaps showing women clad in gaudy dresses, handsome boys and charming girls inculcate a strong urge to become what they are. If a person does not follow these trends and so called lifestyle he or she is socially dead.
Man’s worth is measured by his money, a house in Defence, an automatic car, foreign visa and bank accounts
We easily fall victim to these life styles, because we don’t want to be left behind the popular crowd.
The society emphasises on the life styles because humans try to ‘copy cat’, for instance you must have noticed men and women following the latest fashion trends, cuts and what’s in and what’s out. And it seems that fashion and life style spread like an epidemic and we are meant to follow it as we are a part of the society.
Strain is a result of failure to succeed at the goals set by society, when individuals fail to achieve certain goals they experience strain. The leaders and politicians reflect a society’s mindset as they are elected by the masses. Leaders are role models. They could set up examples and take steps to alleviate social strain because they have the means, power and resources to bring change in the society.
Reducing and keeping unemployment low — a vital social goal and something well within the reach of policymakers, should they seek to achieve this objective — has the ancillary benefit of making a significant contribution to low street crime rates.
To alleviate social strain, politicians as leaders should work for equality for all and eliminate class distinctions. They should provide the needy with basic necessities like education, shelter and food. Curriculum and education should be uniform for all the children in order to maintain equality that would reduce distinctions. With more educated citizens, a different society will develop. Unemployment should be reduced by creating jobs in the government and private sectors.
Our media should not project false image of a lifestyle that is uneasy to achieve. As youngsters blindly follow what is shown in the media, they are easily influenced by the images, ideas and trends by it. If low class wages would be increased, the working class would be able to provide for their families in a better way. With an improved lifestyle and fulfillment of basic needs, they would be relieved of the social strain.
Every individual whether a politician, social worker or an ordinary man should be responsible for shaping a constructive society that can only lead to a healthy society.
“Our own relentless search for novelty and social status locks us into an iron cage of consumerism. Affluence has itself betrayed us.”
(Tim Jackson)
