I Read an article about socialization and stereotypes by drink selection. The article was titled, “you are what you drink” by Ellas Nader. The articles make an argument that your social class can be defined by what alcoholic beverage you drink as a tool of stereotyping. It says that whether you’ve ever realized it or not that what you alcohol you choose to drink puts you in a social group with certain qualities and characteristics. The first two examples the author uses are the martini and the cosmo. The author says that the cosmo has gained fame and been made personalized by Carrie Bradshaw from sex and the city. Also, the martini gained its characteristics from James Bond and his famous line, “shaken, not stirred.” The martini takes on Bond’s personality as being a manly and sophisticated drink. Just the same the cosmo is a strong, independent and feminine drink. Natural light represents a party beer and people who drink tend to be parties and binge drinkers looking to have fun. Natural light markets to college students as being a cool beer and a party beer. The article also makes an argument that even if you are not a drinker of alcohol that you can still be put in a class by what you don’t drink. They are stereotyped as being extremely focused on academics or their jobs and are notorious for having few friends and a nonexistent social life. The lack of social drinking can place someone into a class of his or her own, allowing others to make snap judgments associated with the stereotype of a non-drinker similar to those that non-drinkers make about those who do drink.
I almost read this article and from your blog it sounds like an interesting idea. I don't know if i agree with it though.
ReplyDeleteThis is an interesting article although it makes me wonder if this was studied to discover how the stereotypes are created or if they are just the judgments of the author based on people he or she knows. It would be interesting to find out.
ReplyDeleteI agree that some drinks supposedly indicate social class. I think this can ring true, due to the higher cost of some drinks, such as patron. But, like all stereotypes, they can be ridiculous and of course completely generalize the issue at hand.
ReplyDeleteI never thought about this until now, but I can see where the article is coming from. Upper class citizens are seen sipping on expensive wines and people in the lower class are usually chugging beers.
ReplyDeleteI agree with what this article is saying because you don't necessarily see many college aged kids drinking expensive bottles of liquor, probably because they can't afford it. However you do see them drinking natty because it's a lot cheaper.
ReplyDeleteIt would be interesting to see if marketing people for the companies that sell these beverages agree with this. Obviously, different drinks are marketed to different target audiences. Maybe this is what makes the stereotypes?
ReplyDeletei agree that the marketing is most likely the reason behind drink stereotypes
ReplyDeletei think natty does a good job of advertising to college students. the stuff is everywhere on campus
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