Shopping With(Out) Children: Family and Consumption in the Supermarket Arena

Abstract:     
Sociological perspective on shopping time is usually undertaken from a gender point of view. In this presentation we prosecute a different look. Focusing specifically on shopping time with (or without) children, we conceptualize it as “family practices” (Morgan, 1999), in-between family routines and rituals’ discussion (Wolin e Bennett, 1984; Imber-Black & Roberts, 1992; Gillis, 1996; Pleck, 2000). Family practices are powerful tools to catch family inner dynamics, namely the ones related with children’s central place in contemporary families. Sometimes invisible in consumption practices, children indeed play a major role in decision-making process of their parents. But children are also actors in context and the supermarket can be the arena where family presents itself. For the ones, to go with or without children is a question of option; for the others, there is no option at all. In this case, family faces other families whose behavior is accepted or refused, but always judged.

In this poster we specifically address shopping time involving parents and children in urban supermarkets. Methodological anchored upon empirical data from episodic interviews carried out to parents with children within the age of 3-14 years old, this poster purpose is to present final data and concluding remarks on both practices and social representations surrounding contemporary families’ shopping times and contexts. Through an empiric and theoretical analysis of collected data we hope to critically highlight the sociological knowledge on relations between family, consumption time and children. Sociology of the family and childhood insights brought into discussion can enhance a both original and fruitful contribution to sociology of consumption debates.

Number of Pages in PDF File: 1

Keywords: Shopping, Consumption, Family, Children, Time, Routines, Rituals

JEL Classification: D19, J29, Z10

Accepted Paper Series