Conspicuous Luxury Consumption: Status, Social Media, and Sustainability

Conspicuous luxury consumption is the act of purchasing and displaying high-end goods and services to project wealth, status, and social superiority. This behavior stems from a desire for social recognition, as individuals seek to distinguish themselves from those in lower socioeconomic groups. It is a key facet of modern consumer culture, where luxury is not only a sign of personal success but also a public performance of social standing.

The term "conspicuous consumption" was coined by economist and sociologist Thorstein Veblen in his 1899 work, The Theory of the Leisure Class. Veblen argued that the wealthy used visible consumption of luxury goods as a way to assert their social dominance and prestige. Luxury items, such as designer fashion, expensive jewelry, and rare automobiles, are often used as status symbols to communicate exclusivity and distinction.

In today's world, conspicuous luxury consumption has evolved, fueled by social media platforms like Instagram and Facebook. These platforms allow individuals to curate and display their lifestyles, giving rise to a digital culture of showcasing wealth. Hashtags like #luxurylifestyle and #richkidsofinstagram reflect this trend, where users share images of expensive vacations, designer outfits, and lavish events, contributing to the aspiration of a lifestyle defined by luxury.

However, while conspicuous consumption drives economic growth by increasing demand for high-end goods, it also raises ethical concerns. It perpetuates social inequality, as it accentuates the divide between the wealthy and the less privileged. Furthermore, the constant pursuit of luxury can result in unsustainable consumption patterns. Excessive demand for luxury goods often leads to environmental degradation, as the production of these items requires significant natural resources and contributes to waste generation.

The phenomenon of conspicuous luxury consumption is thus a complex reflection of societal values, economic behavior, and social identity. It reveals how consumer choices are influenced not only by personal desires but by the need for validation and recognition in an increasingly competitive world. Understanding these dynamics is crucial for addressing broader social and environmental challenges.
Conspicuous Luxury Consumption: Status, Social Media, and Sustainability

The use of dowry

A dowry in its simplest form and structure, is the ‘property that a woman bring to her husband at the time of marriage. In antiquity, dowry in the form of money, goods, livestock or land represented the bride’s family’s contribution towards the establishment of the new household.

The dowry apparently originated in the giving of a marriage gift by the family of the bridegroom to the bride and the bestowal of money upon the bride by her parents.

The dowry played a key role in bestowing status and forging alliances. The size of the dowry indicated the bride’s family’s social and economic standing and a large endowment could raise the status of the wife and her family.

It was most familiar in propertied cultures such as ancient Greece and Rome, India and Medieval Europe. Dowry was an important of social standing and wealth; at Athens in the Classical period dowries for women from rich families could amount to 5-10 percent of the paternal estate, while for poorer families the proportion of the family property may have been greater still.

Although the dowry system has been outlawed since the enactment of the 1961 Dowry Prohibition Act in India’s Penal Code (amended in 1984 and 1986), it is still socially and informally sanctioned, particularly in business castes and in rural communities.
The use of dowry