Born to Buy: The Commercialized Child and the New Consumer Culture

A Persuasive Summary

In her groundbreaking book, "Born to Buy: The Commercialized Child and the New Consumer Culture," Juliet B. Schor exposes the alarming trend of children becoming increasingly commercialized and materialistic. She argues that this trend is not only harmful to children, but also to society as a whole.

Schor begins by documenting the dramatic increase in marketing to children in recent decades. She shows how advertisers have increasingly targeted children with their messages, using everything from television commercials to product placements in schools. As a result, children are now exposed to more advertising than ever before, and they are starting to internalize these messages at a younger and younger age.

Schor argues that this commercialization of childhood has a number of negative consequences for children. For example, it can lead to increased materialism, anxiety, and depression. It can also make children more vulnerable to peer pressure and exploitation. In addition, the commercialization of childhood is contributing to the decline of traditional values such as hard work, thrift, and community service.

Schor concludes by calling for a number of reforms to protect children from the negative effects of commercialization. These reforms include stricter limits on advertising to children, increased funding for public education, and the promotion of healthy values and lifestyles.

Why You Should Read This Book

"Born to Buy" is a must-read for anyone who is concerned about the future of children. Schor's research is meticulously documented and her arguments are persuasive. This book will open your eyes to the dangers of commercialization and inspire you to take action to protect children.

Here are some of the key takeaways from "Born to Buy":

• Children are increasingly being targeted by advertisers, and they are starting to internalize these messages at a younger and younger age.
• The commercialization of childhood has a number of negative consequences for children, including increased materialism, anxiety, and depression.
• The commercialization of childhood is contributing to the decline of traditional values such as hard work, thrift, and community service.
• There are a number of reforms that can be implemented to protect children from the negative effects of commercialization.

If you are interested in learning more about the commercialization of childhood and what you can do to protect children, I highly recommend reading "Born to Buy." This book is a powerful indictment of the current state of affairs and a call to action for all of us who care about the future of children.