Webinar: Consuming Modern Slavery
On the 20th of March, we hosted a webinar featuring researchers Michal Carrington and Andreas Chatzidakis (Deirdre Shaw was unavailable due to unforeseen circumstances).
We explored critical discussions surrounding consumer behaviour and modern slavery.
Below, we have provided the recording of the webinar, and a list of key insights.
Webinar Recording
Key Takeaways
The following highlights summarise key takeaways from their research:
Role of Consumers : Everyday consumers play a significant role in perpetuating modern slavery through their demand for cheap goods and services.
Moral Shock : Many consumers experience "moral shock," an emotional response that occurs when they realise their purchasing choices may contribute to harm. This shock can act as a catalyst for change in consumer behaviour.
Categorisation of Enslavement : Participants tended to categorise individuals as either "enslaved" or "not enslaved" based on criteria such as the perceived voice and choice of the individual, impacting their willingness to take action.
Hierarchy of Vulnerability : Age and gender were identified as primary factors in how consumers assessed vulnerability, with children often viewed as more likely to be enslaved compared to adults.
Emotional Responses : Consumers' emotional reactions influenced their perception of responsibility. Feelings of guilt or shame prompted action, while externalising blame often led to inaction.
Justification Techniques : Consumers used various strategies to rationalise their inaction, including:
Techniques of Legitimation : Reducing moral intensity through othering (distancing), dehumanisation, and a sense of necessity (viewing modern slavery as an inevitable problem).
Techniques of Neutralisation : Shifting responsibility to external parties (governments or companies), denying the victim's status, and trivialising the severity of the issue.
Shared Responsibility : A multi-stakeholder approach is necessary to drive effective change in addressing modern slavery. Consumers, businesses, and governments must all share the responsibility for action.
Please visit their website www.consumingmodernslavery.com for more information on their research and to contact the researchers.