To Be "Cool" or Not to Be "Cool": Young People's Insights on Consumption and Social Issues in Rio de Janeiro

Autor/in	Pedrozo, Sueila
Titel	To Be "Cool" or Not to Be "Cool": Young People's Insights on Consumption and Social Issues in Rio de Janeiro
Quelle	In: Journal of Youth Studies, 14 (2011) 1, S.109-123 (15 Seiten) PDF als Volltext Verfügbarkeit
Sprache	englisch
Dokumenttyp	gedruckt; online; Zeitschriftenaufsatz
ISSN	1367-6261
Schlagwörter	Economic Development; Private Schools; Public Schools; Poverty; Foreign Countries; Consumer Economics; Self Concept; Social Differences; Cultural Differences; High School Students; Interviews; Social Bias; Race; Gender Differences; Place of Residence; Student Attitudes; Brazil + Suchen Sie Ihr Suchwort? Wirtschaftsentwicklung; Private school; Privatschule; Public school; Öffentliche Schule; Armut; Ausland; Konsumökonomie; Selbstkonzept; Sozialer Unterschied; Kultureller Unterschied; High school; High schools; Student; Students; Oberschule; Schüler; Schülerin; Studentin; Interviewing; Interviewtechnik; Rasse; Abstammung; Geschlechterkonflikt; Wohnort; Schülerverhalten; Brasilien
Abstract	Given the importance of material goods consumption to young people and the perception that to be "cool" is fundamental to identity construction, this study investigates consumption in relation to social, economic and cultural inequalities. Qualitative individual interviews took place in November 2005, in Rio de Janeiro, with 14 high school students, age range 16-18, from public and private schools, and diverse backgrounds. In the context of global changes, Brazil is pushed towards a more advanced economic development, though basic needs of most of its population are not met. Serious contrasts continually reinforce and reproduce social and economic inequalities, through prejudice and segregation based on race, gender, residence and origin. Poor youngsters face the challenges of living in a globalised but unequal society, such as inadequate education, transition from school to labour markets, unemployment and less social participation. The data suggested that consumption is important to provide the feeling of being "cool", "fitting in" and experiencing inclusion though inequalities are an obstacle to consumption. In divided societies, to consume or dream of consuming create illusions of belonging to different classes, and escaping from poverty; however, respondents argued that education is the most important factor for improving social and economic conditions. (Contains 1 table and 6 notes.) (As Provided).
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Erfasst von	ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Washington, DC
Update	2017/4/10