The purity of dirt: Revisiting Mary Douglas in the light of contemporary consumer interpretations of naturalness, purity and dirt

Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review

Standard

The purity of dirt : Revisiting Mary Douglas in the light of contemporary consumer interpretations of naturalness, purity and dirt. / Ditlevsen, Kia; Andersen, Sidse Schoubye.

In: Sociology, Vol. 55, No. 1, 2021, p. 179-196.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review

Harvard

Ditlevsen, K & Andersen, SS 2021, 'The purity of dirt: Revisiting Mary Douglas in the light of contemporary consumer interpretations of naturalness, purity and dirt', Sociology, vol. 55, no. 1, pp. 179-196. https://doi.org/10.1177/0038038520934980

APA

Ditlevsen, K., & Andersen, S. S. (2021). The purity of dirt: Revisiting Mary Douglas in the light of contemporary consumer interpretations of naturalness, purity and dirt. Sociology, 55(1), 179-196. https://doi.org/10.1177/0038038520934980

Vancouver

Ditlevsen K, Andersen SS. The purity of dirt: Revisiting Mary Douglas in the light of contemporary consumer interpretations of naturalness, purity and dirt. Sociology. 2021;55(1):179-196. https://doi.org/10.1177/0038038520934980

Author

Ditlevsen, Kia ; Andersen, Sidse Schoubye. / The purity of dirt : Revisiting Mary Douglas in the light of contemporary consumer interpretations of naturalness, purity and dirt. In: Sociology. 2021 ; Vol. 55, No. 1. pp. 179-196.

Bibtex

@article{56cdc99ab5734ae68644e9d54f49df9d,
title = "The purity of dirt: Revisiting Mary Douglas in the light of contemporary consumer interpretations of naturalness, purity and dirt",
abstract = "Food consumption and risks associated with it have changed substantially since the 1960s, yet the interpretation and conceptualization of {\textquoteleft}purity and danger{\textquoteright} have not evolved very much since Mary Douglas{\textquoteright} seminal work on the topic. In this study, we present an empirically based contemporary interpretation of purity and danger in relation to the consumption of food, dietary supplements and health-related everyday routines. Drawing on qualitative interviews from two recent Danish research projects, both situated within the field of consumption, we find that consumption choices are motivated by a (diffuse) sense of danger and anxiety about bodily contamination, resulting in a striving for purity. But in contrast with what was observed by Douglas in the 1960s, today{\textquoteright}s purification strategies do not stress hygiene and sterility. Instead they focus on naturalness, even though {\textquoteleft}natural{\textquoteright} products are known to incorporate objectively dirty and non-sterile elements.",
author = "Kia Ditlevsen and Andersen, {Sidse Schoubye}",
year = "2021",
doi = "10.1177/0038038520934980",
language = "English",
volume = "55",
pages = "179--196",
journal = "Sociology",
issn = "0038-0385",
publisher = "SAGE Publications",
number = "1",

}

RIS

TY - JOUR

T1 - The purity of dirt

T2 - Revisiting Mary Douglas in the light of contemporary consumer interpretations of naturalness, purity and dirt

AU - Ditlevsen, Kia

AU - Andersen, Sidse Schoubye

PY - 2021

Y1 - 2021

N2 - Food consumption and risks associated with it have changed substantially since the 1960s, yet the interpretation and conceptualization of ‘purity and danger’ have not evolved very much since Mary Douglas’ seminal work on the topic. In this study, we present an empirically based contemporary interpretation of purity and danger in relation to the consumption of food, dietary supplements and health-related everyday routines. Drawing on qualitative interviews from two recent Danish research projects, both situated within the field of consumption, we find that consumption choices are motivated by a (diffuse) sense of danger and anxiety about bodily contamination, resulting in a striving for purity. But in contrast with what was observed by Douglas in the 1960s, today’s purification strategies do not stress hygiene and sterility. Instead they focus on naturalness, even though ‘natural’ products are known to incorporate objectively dirty and non-sterile elements.

AB - Food consumption and risks associated with it have changed substantially since the 1960s, yet the interpretation and conceptualization of ‘purity and danger’ have not evolved very much since Mary Douglas’ seminal work on the topic. In this study, we present an empirically based contemporary interpretation of purity and danger in relation to the consumption of food, dietary supplements and health-related everyday routines. Drawing on qualitative interviews from two recent Danish research projects, both situated within the field of consumption, we find that consumption choices are motivated by a (diffuse) sense of danger and anxiety about bodily contamination, resulting in a striving for purity. But in contrast with what was observed by Douglas in the 1960s, today’s purification strategies do not stress hygiene and sterility. Instead they focus on naturalness, even though ‘natural’ products are known to incorporate objectively dirty and non-sterile elements.

U2 - 10.1177/0038038520934980

DO - 10.1177/0038038520934980

M3 - Journal article

VL - 55

SP - 179

EP - 196

JO - Sociology

JF - Sociology

SN - 0038-0385

IS - 1

ER -

ID: 245670374