The browser you are using is not supported by this website. All versions of Internet Explorer are no longer supported, either by us or Microsoft (read more here: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/windows/end-of-ie-support).

Please use a modern browser to fully experience our website, such as the newest versions of Edge, Chrome, Firefox or Safari etc.

Mikael Klintman

Mikael Klintman

Professor

Mikael Klintman

Toy Consumption as Political : Challenges for Making Dreams Come True

Author

  • Mikael Klintman

Editor

  • Magnus Boström
  • Michele Micheletti
  • Peter Oosterveer

Summary, in English

This chapter looks at political consumerism in the toy sector, offering a brief history of consumer concerns and distinguishing among four strands of political consumerist research in this sector. A primary factor facilitating political consumerism of toys is that toy companies are extremely concerned about their reputation. Manufacturers cannot assume that parents and other carers do their usual risk-benefit analysis with the same level of risk acceptance concerning toys. Factors constraining political consumerism in this sector include long product chains and difficulties in discovering unethical practices and dangerous substances. Actors involved in the political consumerism of toys come from all societal spheres, including retailers. Regulators take action when risks have been discovered by civil society actors or scientists, but international divergence in regulation constitutes an obstacle to concerted action. Future research needs to examine synergies and trade-offs among various risks in toy products.

Department/s

  • Sociology

Publishing year

2018-07-15

Language

English

Publication/Series

The Oxford Handbook of Political Consumerism

Document type

Book chapter

Publisher

Oxford University Press

Topic

  • Sociology (excluding Social Work, Social Psychology and Social Anthropology)

Keywords

  • Political consumerism
  • Toys
  • Children
  • gender roles
  • marketing regulation

Status

Published

ISBN/ISSN/Other

  • ISBN: 9780190629038