I Determine My Identity

The commodity self is the idea that the products we use can help us shape our identities.  I do not agree with this idea at all.  I think that it is my identity that shapes the products that I use.  For example, I love horses and am a very horsey person.  Several of the items I wear have horses on them, have symbols associated with horses, or are worn by people who spend time around horses.  I do not love horses because I bought those products.  I bought those products because I love horses.  So no, I would not say that I am the product of products.

I shop at Aeropostale for a lot of my clothes.  This is not because Aeropostale clothing makes me seem cool or hip or chic; I wear their clothes because the fit well, are not too expensive, and are about my style of clothing.  If I am wearing or using a certain product it is because I feel like that product works, does what it is supposed to, or is helpful.  I do not use it because it made my identity—my identity is why I use it.