Equality is often presented as a universal value that everyone should strive for, but it can be argued that its commodification has turned it into more than just a goal to aspire towards - it has become a way of life. In many modern societies, there is an emphasis on creating equal opportunities for all individuals regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, and socioeconomic status. This means that individuals have access to resources and opportunities previously denied to them due to their identity.
This equality comes at a cost, as it turns liberation into a lifestyle. The commodification of equality has turned freedom into something that needs to be bought rather than earned through hard work and dedication.
One example of this commodification of equality is the increasing commercialization of gender and sexuality. Advertising companies promote products and services that promise to make people feel like they belong to certain groups, such as those who identify as LGBTQ+ or are non-binary. By doing so, these companies are profiting from people's desire to fit in and be accepted by society. This commercialization also creates a sense of competition among different groups, wherein one group tries to prove that they are more 'equal' than others.
Another example of the commodification of equality is the promotion of intimacy as a product. Many websites and apps offer paid services that provide intimate encounters between strangers. These services claim to create a safe space for individuals to explore their desires without judgement. Yet, this type of service often objectifies sex and reduces relationships to mere transactions. It also perpetuates the idea that women and men should act out their fantasies with no regard for emotional attachment or commitment.
The commodification of equality can also be seen in the way sex education is taught in schools. Sexual health clinics, sex toy stores, and other related businesses have become popular, promoting sexual freedom and exploration.
This commodification ignores the complexities of human relationships and intimacy. It treats sex as a transactional experience that can be bought and sold like any other product.
The commodification of equality has turned liberation into lifestyle. The emphasis on creating equal opportunities has led to the commercialization of gender and sexuality, which turns them into products that need to be purchased rather than earned through hard work and dedication.
The promotion of intimacy as a product objectifies sex and reduces relationships to transactions, while the promotion of sex education as a commodity devalues the importance of human connection and intimacy.
How does the commodification of equality turn liberation into lifestyle?
The process of commodifying equality is one that has been used for centuries by those who wish to control others through their economic and social structures. By turning something as fundamental and essential to human existence as equality into a product or service that can be bought and sold, it is possible to manipulate people's thoughts and actions in order to maintain power and privilege.