Abstract

PORTILHO, Fátima. Self-attribution of responsibility: consumers of organic foods in a certified street market in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Etnográfica [online]. 2010, vol.14, n.3, pp.549-565. ISSN 0873-6561.

This study aims to contribute to the analyses of consumption, and food consumption in particular, as a political act, by emphasizing the process of self-attribution of responsibility by consumers involved in organic food consumption at an organic certified street market in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Conducted from the perspective of sociological and anthropological consumption theories, in addition to risk sociology and the theory of reflexive modernization, this study concluded that these consumers act and participate socially through “responsible consumption” instead of the collective forms of political participation through institutionalized social movements. Even though there is a diversity of values and practices, these consumers seem to have in common (1) a mistrust in other social agents and (2) the trust in the importance and effectiveness of their actions.

Keywords : self-attribution of responsibility; environmentalization of consumption; political consumption; organic food.

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