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Second-hand consumption among middle-class mothers in the UK: thrift, distinction, and risk

Second-hand consumption among middle-class mothers in the UK: thrift, distinction, and risk
Second-hand consumption among middle-class mothers in the UK: thrift, distinction, and risk
One in five UK parents have purchased more second-hand baby items since the onset of the 2009 financial crisis. This is a very particular form of second-hand consumption which includes hand-me-downs as well as semi-formal second-hand retail channels. Existing literature suggests a range of motivations evident in second-hand consumption practices, namely financial benefits. Opposing this gain however, is the risk marked by the unknown as used goods may be unfit for purpose, unclean or be tainted in another way by a previous owner. We might assume that this risk factor is heightened when a mother, programmed to protect and nurture, is faced with the option of offering her child second-hand clothes and toys. This commentary explores the existing literature and suggests that further study is required to explore the relationship of mothering and second-hand consumption
2046-7435
159-162
Waight, Emma
b9491367-72bf-42d1-8f79-56b2d27d5bc3
Waight, Emma
b9491367-72bf-42d1-8f79-56b2d27d5bc3

Waight, Emma (2014) Second-hand consumption among middle-class mothers in the UK: thrift, distinction, and risk. Families, Relationships and Societies, 3 (1), 159-162. (doi:10.1332/204674313X13805551473134).

Record type: Article

Abstract

One in five UK parents have purchased more second-hand baby items since the onset of the 2009 financial crisis. This is a very particular form of second-hand consumption which includes hand-me-downs as well as semi-formal second-hand retail channels. Existing literature suggests a range of motivations evident in second-hand consumption practices, namely financial benefits. Opposing this gain however, is the risk marked by the unknown as used goods may be unfit for purpose, unclean or be tainted in another way by a previous owner. We might assume that this risk factor is heightened when a mother, programmed to protect and nurture, is faced with the option of offering her child second-hand clothes and toys. This commentary explores the existing literature and suggests that further study is required to explore the relationship of mothering and second-hand consumption

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Published date: March 2014
Organisations: Winchester School of Art

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 370611
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/370611
ISSN: 2046-7435
PURE UUID: f01f73ff-6778-477d-962e-fbd6134470a2

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Date deposited: 03 Nov 2014 11:52
Last modified: 14 Mar 2024 18:19

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Author: Emma Waight

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