Shopping can
mean many different things and that meaning can be completely different for
every individual person. For example, I
use it as a relaxing escape from my everyday stressful worries. It helps me deal with the world and feel as
if I’m free to choose what I desire without anyone intervening. The simple fact of going to a certain store
and looking at items I might want to buy is enough to make me feel in control
and in sync with everyone else there.
As I mentioned earlier I don’t
always have to purchase an item to feel in control or connected to other
people. Phyllis Rose believes that there
is a difference between buying and shopping because shopping does not always
involve the purchase of any object (Rose, 1984) . It is more spiritual than materialistic
because it serves many functions in someone’s life. For example, for Rose
personally it serves as a spiritual self-discipline because it helps her to
realize that she is the way she is and there is no reason to be ashamed because
many other people go through the same problems as you might. She mentions this
spirituality in shopping because of the issue she had in the past with buying
blue jeans but if you really think about it any issue you may have should
become smaller if you realize that everyone in this world has issues and
sometimes even worse than your own. She also believes that shopping can help us
cheer up, make decisions, make us feel as if we really are a useful member or
our society and many other things.
In her article, Rose argues against
the statement that Americans are materialistic because of her belief in the
spirituality of shopping against the materialism of buying. Throughout her
article she stresses the differences between the two by using not only a
critical but also a lyrical tone. She finds fault in the belief that Americans
are materialistic for the simple fact that they use shopping as an outlet from
the world. However, she doesn’t simply criticize this belief; she also brings
in a personal anecdote from her life which makes her tone slightly lyrical. This
anecdote comes from her past experience in buying jeans which she believed did
not look good on her. She uses this statement to prove that shopping, to her,
served as something spiritual, a way of feeling better about the way she was
born and the way she will always be.
All in all, Rose stresses the fact
that shopping does not always involve buying. She also stresses to her
audience, in this case people who believe Americans are materialistic, that
they are wrong to believe that all we care about is purchasing an item.
Shopping serves as therapy not only as an enjoyment in life but the most
important aspect of shopping is the spirituality behind it.
By Laysi Almanza, Pre- Med student at USFSP.
References
Rose, p. (1984). SHOPPING AND OTHER
SPIRITUAL ADVENTURES. 1-2.
