Can sustainable consumption be inherited? The children of Czech voluntary simplifiers

PELIKÁN, Vojtěch. Can sustainable consumption be inherited? The children of Czech voluntary simplifiers. In ESA Consumption RN05 midterm conference: "Consumption, inequalities, futures: Conceptual and practical sociological challenges". 2016.

Basic information

• Original name: Can sustainable consumption be inherited? The children of Czech voluntary simplifiers
• Authors: PELIKÁN, Vojtěch (203 Czech Republic, guarantor, belonging to the institution).
• Edition: ESA Consumption RN05 midterm conference: "Consumption, inequalities, futures: Conceptual and practical sociological challenges" 2016.

Other information

• Original language: English
• Type of outcome: Presentations at conferences
• Field of Study: 50401 Sociology
• Country of publisher: Czech Republic
• Confidentiality degree: is not subject to a state or trade secret
• WWW: URL
• RIV identification code: RIV/00216224:14230/16:00088302
• Organization unit: Faculty of Social Studies
• Keywords in English: Voluntary Simplicity; Social Reproduction; Longitudinal Qualitative Research; Sustainable Consumption

Abstract

In 1992, Hana Librová conducted in-depth interviews within Czech households that were distinct by their environment-friendly patterns of consumption. These families can be considered as part of the "voluntary simplicity" stream, even though they themselves do not identify with either the simplicity or the environmental movements. Librová has developed her research into a longitudinal study with two more stages in 2002 and 2015. Additionally, many other sociological studies have explored pro-environmental practices and more sustainable lifestyles in recent decades. However, the reproduction of such lifestyles within families remains under-researched. Therefore, in 2015, we replicated Librová's method and conducted interviews with the 21 adult children who have grown up in the families from Librová's original sample. We tackle the question of whether the documented environment-friendly lifestyle can be reproduced, and if so, in what ways. How do the children look back on their growing up without material affluence? Have they set up their own lifestyle in a more consumerist manner? And how was the process of the lifestyle's reproduction influenced by the country's shift from post-Communism to a fully developed capitalist economy? Our research draws on sociological theories of consumption, particularly on Bourdieu. The results show that while revolting against their parents was characteristic for the first generation of participants interviewed in 1992, their own habitus has been reproduced relatively successfully. Nevertheless, the environment-friendly aspects of their children's consumption have generally weakened.

Links

• GA15-05552S, research and development project: Name: Ekologicky příznivý životní způsob v běhu času (Acronym: ECOLIFETIME)

Investor: Czech Science Foundation