Symbolic Interactionism, Stigma, and Whole Food

While watching the movie in class the part about the conflict in Burlington, VT about who would get to build the new supermarket really sparked an interest it also made me think of Whole Foods here in Sugarhouse, although the Food Co-op is probably more within reach of most low income people, Whole Foods really is not. But from a Symbolic Interactionist perspective Whole Food symbolizes wealth, and class. To many it holds the stereotype of wealth, upper middle class, YUPPIEs. People who shop at Whole Foods are likely to be better educated because they are concerned with the quality of food they purchase, and the effects it has on their health, while being less concerned about the higher price because they tend to have more money. For people who can't afford to shop at Whole Foods, it holds a stigma of being "uppity" or to good for the average person. This applies to both the store itself as well as the people who shop there. This example demonstrates how symbolism and the theoretical perspective of symbolic interactionism play into everyday life.