Two pictures of non-consumerism in the life of freegans

LOJDOVÁ, Kateřina. Two pictures of non-consumerism in the life of freegans. Human Affairs-Postdisciplinary Humanities Social Sciences Quarterly. Berlin: WALTER DE GRUYTER GMBH, 2020, vol. 30, No 1, p. 96-108. ISSN 1210-3055. Available from: https://dx.doi.org/10.1515/humaff-2020-0009.

Basic information

• Original name: Two pictures of non-consumerism in the life of freegans
• Authors: LOJDOVÁ, Kateřina (203 Czech Republic, guarantor, belonging to the institution).
• Edition: Human Affairs-Postdisciplinary Humanities Social Sciences Quarterly, Berlin, WALTER DE GRUYTER GMBH, 2020, 1210-3055.

Other information

• Original language: English
• Type of outcome: Article in a journal
• Field of Study: 50301 Education, general; including training, pedagogy, didactics [and education systems]
• Country of publisher: Germany
• Confidentiality degree: is not subject to a state or trade secret
• WWW: URL
• RIV identification code: RIV/00216224:14410/20:00115190
• Organization unit: Faculty of Education
• Doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1515/humaff-2020-0009
• UT WoS: 000507234000010
• Keywords in English: dumpster diving; environmental activism; freegans; non-consumerism; subcultures
• Tags: International impact, Reviewed

Abstract

The growing consumerism has its opponents. Among these are environmental activists within the freegan subculture. The goal of the study is to describe how freegans construct and practice nonconsumerism. The qualitative research on the freegan subculture was conducted in Brno, the Czech Republic. Two main categories were identified. Each category is conceptualized as a “picture of non-consumerism”, showing how freegans construct and practice non-consumerism. “Individual modesty” is an inward nonconsumerist strategy, aimed at the individual life careers of the subculture members, while “agents of social change” is an outward strategy, aimed at the general public and endeavouring to reduce consumerism in society.