We are what we buy?

[Anthony Simon]

One of the explanations suggested for the riots that happened in the UK about 18 months ago was to do with buying stuff as a way of defining who you are. The argument was that, in a consumer society, a lot of people's sense of who they are comes about by the choices they make when they are buying stuff. Like, if you dress in a certain way, or ride in a certain sort of car, those decisions are part of how you choose to define yourself.

Thus, when money is tight, one can no longer define oneself as one wishes, especially if one is at the bottom of the ladder. And then people get angry and frustrated...

Whether or not that's a good explanation of the rioting, it certainly occurs to me that CDs do have a certain dependence on buying stuff as self-expression. Part of that is just being able to do it - and part of it is the joy having new stuff to wear. I personally just love getting fitted for a wig. And then sometimes there's the nice, accepting conversations you can have with people.

And, in fact, if like me you haven't been out dressed up, this can be quite an important part of being a CD. I mean you do actually get to interact with the world, albeit in a limited way and show who you are.

So I'm wondering what people think about how straightened circumstances affect their CDing.

Like in a consumer society, if you have money, then you are someone. That's the basic idea. Without money you have no identity. If you're a CD, you don't have a girl identity - or anyway, it's impaired.

[Paula G]

mmm first of all I don't think that it is a question of how you choose to spend your money that dictates your position in a consumer society as much as how much money you have to choose to spend. However having said that I suspect that shopping is certainly some form of gender validation for many of us. I know few GGs who are as enthusiastic clothes shoppers as CDs. I (almost) cope financially by patronising charity shops. I take a great deal of pride and joy in finding some special bargains, just because someone else bought them first doesn't really matter to me.

[April Rose]

Anthony, I tend to agree with you. I don't go out either. My experience getting fitted for a wig a year or two ago, was a pleasurable, liberating, important day for me.

[Ralitsa]

This is an interesting theory, one I had never thought about before.
I think it's well established that many people identify themselves by what they do or make. So by extension, what they buy, or the possessions they surround themselves with, could be thought of as identifying who they are. It seems like quite a stretch to contend that rioting is a symptom of not being able to buy enough stuff.

Its application to CDing seems to be more direct though. I would really say that we buy what we are, and not the other way. I like the same colors and styles whether it's in a dress, skirt, or guy clothes. Who I am is definitely expressed by what I wear and what I buy. But I've said before that I don't have modes, I'm the same person whether I'm wearing a dress or barn clothes. So I'm not a good example.
For many people though, it does seem like they take their identity from their possession, and I blame that on watching too much TV.