Lust och disciplin
Medelålders kvinnors konsumtion i det senmoderna samhället
BehovKonsumtionShoppaHandlaSocialt arbeteSocial problems and welfareNational insuranceSociala problemSocial välfärdSocialförsäkringLaw and Political Science
The purpose was to look into the pattern of consumption among middleage women. Our questions were how women experienced the need to consume, how they defined the expression of consumption and if there was a difference between "shopping" and "buying". The research has been done through eight qualitative interviews and searching in litterature, illuminating our questions.All women defined consumption as satisfying basic needs. According to them everything bought on a daily bases is consumption. More difficult to define was the experience of "need". The need could have an implication of control, ex to buy only that which is necessary. It could even be connected with what mood the women were in, ex when depressed, to chear oneself up. There was also a moral aspect on their consumption. Several women expressed desire to satisfy other values in life which had been lost, thus creating meaning. All had the opinion there is a difference between "shopping" and "buying". "Shopping" includes more pleasure while "buying" more of planning and basic needs. "Shopping" felt more like a social act where buying the objects were less important than the social fellowship.