Feminist Discernment in the Family
Transforming Romantic Partnerships, Parenting, and Consumption
created and written by:
Emily Knurek & Cecilia Yu
Transforming Consumption:
Socially Responsible Consumption
"The image of the economy as a beating heart not only brings together body and soul, but points us toward action regarding the heartaches of poverty, hunger, injustice, empty consumerism, and ecological destruction."
- Julie Nelson (1)
Buddhist Economics and Simple Living
Luxury materialistic consumption does not fill any real need; this is best described by Payutto's Buddhist Economics, "Buddhism recognises two different kinds of wanting: (1) tanha, the desire for pleasure objects; and (2) chanda, the desire for well-being." (2) Buddhist economists believe satisfaction can be created from the desire to make others happy and healthy (chanda). An evaluation of the ethical quality of economic activity is encouraged. How does consumption affect consumerism, the environment, and society?
Payutto notes that most unethical economic activities are those that feed tanha, while undermining well-being values that come from chanda. Specifically, compulsive consumption inevitably results in dissatisfaction, and it neither contributes to well-being nor developments human potentialities and spirituality. A key to well-being is moderation, a goal of reaching an equilibrium where there is no over-consumption or over-production.
Payutto's writings on Buddhist economics illustrate one way that feminist discernment in the family can transform our consumption patterns. In fact, more and more Americans are using the discernment process to find that if they want to achieve well-being for themselves, their partners, and their families, they must reject competitive consumerism as a core family value. Struggles to balance work and family life have led to developing a more informed, healthy, and balanced relationship to consumption. Women are spending less so that that they can work less, and instead are spending more time with their families. Feminist discernment in consumption is also leading some Americans to pay back their debts, explore simple living, and to downshift into more family-friendly and fulfilling lifestyles.
Paid Labor vs. Caring Labour
Caring labour has traditionally referenced to work done at home by stay-at-home mothers. This work includes domestic chores, taking care of the children, being there for husbands and children. As a result of feminist movements in the mid to late 1900s, many traditional homemakers moved into the wage-earning labour force. Caring work has increasingly moved out of the household. Yet, to quote from Julie Nelson's Economics from Humans, "the idea that carework was not serious income-earning work persisted". (3) One point Nelson points out in her book is the potential conflict between care and the monetary value of caring labour. In other words, can monetary goals and caring intentions be complementary motivations? Is it possible to waive our interests in ethics and social well-being with our interest in money, especially in the economy of the American society?
Unfortunately, "the idea that life under industrial capitalism has become an iron cage has carried tremendous weight" (4). The economic world has changed human norms so much so that we are more focused on succeeding by capitalist rules than reminding ourselves of the true purpose of capitalism: increasing human well-being and life quality.
Julie Nelson points out how money-motivated behaviour isn't always greedy and that economic behaviour is not always about getting money. For example, how do for-profit organisations differ or not differ from non-profit organisations? "The fact that an organisation is run as a "for profit" in no way requires, either by law or by economic "mechanisms" that it must have profit as its sole goal. Nor does being run as a non-profit or "in the public interest" guarantee good motives or outcomes. Organisations must be evaluated by what they do." (5)
Learn more about caring labour in the Valuing the Devalued Process pages.
Learn more about Competitive Consumerism.
Created By: Cecilia Yu
Page Created: May 21st, 2007
Last Modified: October 11th, 2007