Gays, Lesbians, and Consumer Behavior: Theory, Practice, and Research

Description

Marketing practitioners have begun to target gays and lesbians as consumers, although little is known about their buying behavior, expectations in consumption, or of their treatment in the marketplace. Gays, Lesbians, and Consumer Behavior is the first attempt at presenting the roles, treatment, and expectations of gays and lesbians as consumers in the marketplace. It asserts that homosexuality... Read more

Marketing practitioners have begun to target gays and lesbians as consumers, although little is known about their buying behavior, expectations in consumption, or of their treatment in the marketplace. Gays, Lesbians, and Consumer Behavior is the first attempt at presenting the roles, treatment, and expectations of gays and lesbians as consumers in the marketplace. It asserts that homosexuality often entails a fully elaborated lifestyle, many details of which revolve around, and reflect differences from, mainstream society. These findings are of practical value since consumers, businesses, channels of distribution, and media forms are all segmented, addressing a diversity of attitudes and behaviors and reaching consumers through targeted marketing.

In Gays, Lesbians, and Consumer Behavior, Editor Daniel L. Wardlow brings together research which builds upon the theoretical and empirical bases of consumer behavior. Each chapter contributes to an understanding of consumption in the gay and lesbian subculture and raises a series of questions and ethical concerns to guide future research in this area. Chapters center on the four broad themes of consumption rituals, presentation through consumption, discrimination and tolerance, and application and accommodation. Specific topics covered include:

ritualistic consumption in a sub-cultural context
lesbian consumption of lesbian imagery
discrimination issues in retail customer service and hotel reservations
effects of homosexual imagery on advertising
gift-giving behavior among homosexuals
using marketing in HIV/AIDS prevention counseling
market profiling and strategy suggestions
accommodating gays and lesbians as consumers in the marketplace

The research presented in Gays, Lesbians, and Consumer Behavior draws from a diverse collection of academic disciplines and fields of inquiry to present a glimpse at the consumption behavior of gay men, lesbians, and bisexuals, and at the marketing response to these different populations. As a pioneering effort, Gays, Lesbians, and Consumer Behavior’s scope is not comprehensive, but deliberately broad to allow researchers to delineate avenues for subsequent research. Many of the chapters are empirical or descriptive in nature and contain insights for academic and practitioner alike.

Academics in marketing, psychology, sociology, consumer behavior, gay and lesbian studies, and cultural anthropology will find this a valuable addition to their reading material. Marketing, advertising, and retailing professionals will be able to put the information and findings to practical use as they aim to reach more consumers and broaden their audience.

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Foreword
Introduction
We’re Here, We’re Queer, and We’re Going Shopping!: A Critical Perspective on the Accommodation of Gays and Lesbians in the U. S. Marketplace
Gift-Giving Among Gay Men: The Reification of Social Relations
Mainstream Legitimization of Homosexual Men Through Valentine’s Day Gift-Giving and Consumption Rituals
Desire and Deviate Nymphos: Performing Inversion(s) as a Lesbian Consumer
Communities, Commodities, Cultural Space, and Style
Appearance and Self-Presentation Research in Gay Consumer Culture: Issues and Impact
“Excuse Me, Sir? May I Help You and Your Boyfriend?”: Salespersons’ Differential Treatment of Homosexual and Straight Customers
Discrimination Against Same-Sex Couples in Hotel Reservation Policies
The Effect of Homosexual Imagery in Advertising on Attitude Toward the Ad
The Social Marketing of Project ARIES: Overcoming Challenges in Recruiting Gay and Bisexual Males for HIV Prevention Counseling
Marketing to the Homosexual (Gay) Market: A Profile and Strategy Implications
Some Comments on “Marketing to the Homosexual (Gay) Market: A Profile and Strategy Implications”
Out of the Closet and Into the Marketplace: Meeting Basic Needs in the Gay Community
About the Contributors
Index
Reference Notes Included

Editor(s)

Biography

Wardlow, Daniel L.

Gays, Lesbians, and Consumer Behavior Theory, Practice, and Research Issues in Marketing

Description

Table of Contents

Editor(s)

Biography

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