Ethical consumption examines how our purchases construct identity; recognizing this process lets us choose authentically rather than performing purchased personas.
Sor Juana navigated the careful performance of identity required for survival and intellectual freedom. This concept applies her insights to consumer culture's promise: that products will make us who we want to be. Ethical consumption means recognizing that clothing, technology, and lifestyle choices don't create identity—they express or sometimes distort it. Marketing thrives on selling identity, creating insecurity, offering purchased solutions. Sor Juana would question this deeply. Who are we beneath the consumption? What identity are we actually trying to perform? Ethical consumption asks: Are my choices authentic expressions of my values, or am I performing an identity marketed to me? This framework liberates us from the exhausting work of constructing ourselves through products. Instead, we align consumption with genuine identity, purchasing as expression rather than creation. We recognize that our true identity emerges from thought, values, relationships—not acquisitions.
Peri can explain this concept, give practical examples, help you decide whether it applies to your situation, or recommend a journey if appropriate.
Explore related journeys or tell Peri what you're working through.