Topic 1: the world of work and consumerism
Advertising and consumerism
definition
Advertising is a way to promote goods and services through different kinds of media such as newspaper, television,
posters, social media and more, in order to increase the consumption of goods and services.
This leads to people’s well-being and happiness depending fundamentally on consumer goods and material possessions.
definition
Consumerism is the idea that increasing the consumption of goods and services purchased in the market is always a
desirable goal and that a person's well-being and happiness depend fundamentally on receiving consumer goods and
material possessions.
pro con
• stimulates economic growth ➔ increased production • it is intrusive ➔ advertising is everywhere; imposition
➔ more jobs ➔ better wages ➔ more affluent on one's peace and personal space
society ➔ higher standard of living • it is manipulative ➔ manipulates people into adopting
• boosts creativity and innovation ➔ consumers a particular view and creates false desire and needs
always expect newer, better and cheaper products • it doesn't meet our needs ➔ consumerism continually
➔ desire for something better leads to pressure on creates new needs in people and makes them consume
companies to develop innovative products more ➔ constantly chasing impossible dreams
• encourages cost reduction • it restricts our choices and lives ➔ dictates our lives
• poor performers are weeded out naturally; by telling us what we need
consumers get what they want ➔ companies are • affects our worldviews and characters ➔ we spend
forced to, stay innovative ➔ consumers decide a lot of time on seeking new products and have less
time to learn
which companies stay
• it is unsustainable and harms the environment ➔ we
• consumerism encourages freelancing,
live on a planet with a finite set of natural resources
entrepreneurialism, and self-employment ➔ people
➔ we can't continue with the current level of
are encouraged to take risks in a society which
consumption demanded by consumerism without
encourages consumerism. You'll find more freelancers
working on their own, securing contracts to work major consequence ➔ climate change, natural
from home, in this type of society compared to disasters, extinction of species
others
• creates safer goods for consumers ➔ purchases
become familiar with their rights and responsibilities
➔ companies are forced to hold to higher standards
,Throwaway society
definition
society in which material things that could still be used further or reused are only used briefly out of abundance and
convenience, quickly disposed of and often brought again
• Opposite of throwaway society ➔ Circular economy
causes
• fast trend changes (fast fashion industry)
• disposable products ➔ drinking straws/bags made of plastic ➔ used once and then thrown away ➔ harmful to
environment
• production of cheap product ➔ lower durability/quality
• rapid, technological progress ➔ old products (technical devices) don't enable performance of newer versions
• consumerism ➔ psychological: spontaneous emotion ➔ happiness quickly diminishes
how to make products last longer
• treat them properly
• pass them on / donating (clothes, phones)
• upcycle, recycle, reuse
consequences
• pollution: garbage in environment (plastic is not biodegradable)
• climate change: characterized by the mass production of consumer goods ➔ CO2 is emitted during the production /
dispose
Globalization
definition
globalization is the word used to describe the growing interdependence of the world’s economies, cultures, and
populations, brought about by cross-border trade in goods and services, technology, and flows of investment, people
and information
division of labor
• economic concept which states that dividing the production process into different stages enables workers to focus
on specific tasks
• concentration on one small task ➔ overall increase in efficiency
➔ apple products are designed in California and produced in China (production process is split up into many parts f.e
software, hardware, marketing, etc.)
, risks and opportunities
pro con
• makes trade easier worldwide • rising competition
➔ cooperation through partnerships and trade ➔ conflicts between countries etc.
agreements • increasing (inter-)dependence
➔ new potential markets and costumers ➔ countries can’t support the population on their
➔ better and wider access to products own (leverage in international conflicts)
• diffusion of new ideas, technologies, products, service • less culture, western society could take over
+ lifestyle • widening social gap / growing inequality
➔ ability to get to know new / other cultures, ➔ exploitation of developing countries
broaden horizons (e.g. food) ➔ power imbalance (political)
• improved global communication • danger to the environment
➔ people (social media etc.) ➔ shipment of goods (plane, ship, trucks)
➔ countries (global information network and ➔ deforestation of rainforests
exchange) • outsourcing ➔ people lose their jobs
• international standards
• global health issues and spread of pandemics
➔ politics, economy, society + employment
➔ better working conditions, humans rights etc.
(countries can help each other)
• better job opportunities
Gender issues in the workplace
definition
Women and men still aren’t equally treated. No matter if money, job, parliament, leading position, family or sportwise
• women earn 20% less monthly than men for the same work
• European countries have introduced legislation quota regulations
• 1960: Women revolution
top 5 issues women have to face regarding inequality in the Workplace
• Unequal pay (gender pay gap): on average American women are more educated than men (earned for decades more
bachelors/masters degrees
➔ Statistics shows that women earn 80 % of what men are paid
➔ More than half of women leave the workforce for at least a year (to shoulder demands of raising children/ other
family obligations), which is twice the rate for men
Advertising and consumerism
definition
Advertising is a way to promote goods and services through different kinds of media such as newspaper, television,
posters, social media and more, in order to increase the consumption of goods and services.
This leads to people’s well-being and happiness depending fundamentally on consumer goods and material possessions.
definition
Consumerism is the idea that increasing the consumption of goods and services purchased in the market is always a
desirable goal and that a person's well-being and happiness depend fundamentally on receiving consumer goods and
material possessions.
pro con
• stimulates economic growth ➔ increased production • it is intrusive ➔ advertising is everywhere; imposition
➔ more jobs ➔ better wages ➔ more affluent on one's peace and personal space
society ➔ higher standard of living • it is manipulative ➔ manipulates people into adopting
• boosts creativity and innovation ➔ consumers a particular view and creates false desire and needs
always expect newer, better and cheaper products • it doesn't meet our needs ➔ consumerism continually
➔ desire for something better leads to pressure on creates new needs in people and makes them consume
companies to develop innovative products more ➔ constantly chasing impossible dreams
• encourages cost reduction • it restricts our choices and lives ➔ dictates our lives
• poor performers are weeded out naturally; by telling us what we need
consumers get what they want ➔ companies are • affects our worldviews and characters ➔ we spend
forced to, stay innovative ➔ consumers decide a lot of time on seeking new products and have less
time to learn
which companies stay
• it is unsustainable and harms the environment ➔ we
• consumerism encourages freelancing,
live on a planet with a finite set of natural resources
entrepreneurialism, and self-employment ➔ people
➔ we can't continue with the current level of
are encouraged to take risks in a society which
consumption demanded by consumerism without
encourages consumerism. You'll find more freelancers
working on their own, securing contracts to work major consequence ➔ climate change, natural
from home, in this type of society compared to disasters, extinction of species
others
• creates safer goods for consumers ➔ purchases
become familiar with their rights and responsibilities
➔ companies are forced to hold to higher standards
,Throwaway society
definition
society in which material things that could still be used further or reused are only used briefly out of abundance and
convenience, quickly disposed of and often brought again
• Opposite of throwaway society ➔ Circular economy
causes
• fast trend changes (fast fashion industry)
• disposable products ➔ drinking straws/bags made of plastic ➔ used once and then thrown away ➔ harmful to
environment
• production of cheap product ➔ lower durability/quality
• rapid, technological progress ➔ old products (technical devices) don't enable performance of newer versions
• consumerism ➔ psychological: spontaneous emotion ➔ happiness quickly diminishes
how to make products last longer
• treat them properly
• pass them on / donating (clothes, phones)
• upcycle, recycle, reuse
consequences
• pollution: garbage in environment (plastic is not biodegradable)
• climate change: characterized by the mass production of consumer goods ➔ CO2 is emitted during the production /
dispose
Globalization
definition
globalization is the word used to describe the growing interdependence of the world’s economies, cultures, and
populations, brought about by cross-border trade in goods and services, technology, and flows of investment, people
and information
division of labor
• economic concept which states that dividing the production process into different stages enables workers to focus
on specific tasks
• concentration on one small task ➔ overall increase in efficiency
➔ apple products are designed in California and produced in China (production process is split up into many parts f.e
software, hardware, marketing, etc.)
, risks and opportunities
pro con
• makes trade easier worldwide • rising competition
➔ cooperation through partnerships and trade ➔ conflicts between countries etc.
agreements • increasing (inter-)dependence
➔ new potential markets and costumers ➔ countries can’t support the population on their
➔ better and wider access to products own (leverage in international conflicts)
• diffusion of new ideas, technologies, products, service • less culture, western society could take over
+ lifestyle • widening social gap / growing inequality
➔ ability to get to know new / other cultures, ➔ exploitation of developing countries
broaden horizons (e.g. food) ➔ power imbalance (political)
• improved global communication • danger to the environment
➔ people (social media etc.) ➔ shipment of goods (plane, ship, trucks)
➔ countries (global information network and ➔ deforestation of rainforests
exchange) • outsourcing ➔ people lose their jobs
• international standards
• global health issues and spread of pandemics
➔ politics, economy, society + employment
➔ better working conditions, humans rights etc.
(countries can help each other)
• better job opportunities
Gender issues in the workplace
definition
Women and men still aren’t equally treated. No matter if money, job, parliament, leading position, family or sportwise
• women earn 20% less monthly than men for the same work
• European countries have introduced legislation quota regulations
• 1960: Women revolution
top 5 issues women have to face regarding inequality in the Workplace
• Unequal pay (gender pay gap): on average American women are more educated than men (earned for decades more
bachelors/masters degrees
➔ Statistics shows that women earn 80 % of what men are paid
➔ More than half of women leave the workforce for at least a year (to shoulder demands of raising children/ other
family obligations), which is twice the rate for men
