IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/kap/jbuset/v199y2025i3d10.1007_s10551-024-05829-2.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Dilemmas of Care (Re) Allocation: Care and Consumption in Pandemic Times

Author

Listed:
  • Teresa Heath

    (NIPE, University of Minho)

  • Samanthika Gallage

    (Nottingham University Business School, University of Nottingham)

  • Andreas Chatzidakis

    (Royal Holloway University of London)

  • Martina Hutton

    (Royal Holloway University of London)

Abstract

Studies into the ethical aspects of consumption tend to focus on a limited class of actions that are explicitly understood as “ethical consumption”. The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic provided a context in which other ethical issues and questions of whom we should care for first, and how, suddenly and dramatically gained salience. This article draws on the care literature to explore the reconfiguration of consumption decisions and dilemmas during this period. Building on twenty-eight in-depth interviews, it considers the temporal and spatial dimensions of care and consumption and examines various ethical and ideological considerations that arose, particularly regarding the allocation of care in the face of competing demands. Subsequently, the article problematises mainstream accounts of ethical consumption, arguing for considering a plurality of ethics present within decisions about consumption. It concludes with a call to incorporate a more capacious understanding of care in broader discussions of ethics in consumption.

Suggested Citation

  • Teresa Heath & Samanthika Gallage & Andreas Chatzidakis & Martina Hutton, 2025. "Dilemmas of Care (Re) Allocation: Care and Consumption in Pandemic Times," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 199(3), pages 507-527, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:jbuset:v:199:y:2025:i:3:d:10.1007_s10551-024-05829-2
    DOI: 10.1007/s10551-024-05829-2
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s10551-024-05829-2
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers.
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1007/s10551-024-05829-2?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to

    for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Roberta Sebastiani & Francesca Montagnini & Daniele Dalli, 2013. "Ethical Consumption and New Business Models in the Food Industry. Evidence from the Eataly Case," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 114(3), pages 473-488, May.
    2. Aric Rindfleisch & James E. Burroughs & Nancy Wong, 2009. "The Safety of Objects: Materialism, Existential Insecurity, and Brand Connection," Journal of Consumer Research, Journal of Consumer Research Inc., vol. 36(1), pages 1-16, June.
    3. Xiaojing Sheng & Seth C. Ketron & Yubing Wan, 2022. "Identifying consumer segments based on COVID‐19 pandemic perceptions and responses," Journal of Consumer Affairs, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 56(1), pages 34-67, March.
    4. Michal Carrington & Andreas Chatzidakis & Helen Goworek & Deirdre Shaw, 2021. "Correction to: Consumption Ethics: A Review and Analysis of Future Directions for Interdisciplinary Research," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 168(2), pages 239-239, January.
    5. Teresa Heath & Lisa O’Malley & Matthew Heath & Vicky Story, 2016. "Caring and Conflicted: Mothers’ Ethical Judgments about Consumption," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 136(2), pages 237-250, June.
    6. Deirdre Shaw & Robert Mcmaster & Cristina Longo & Nil Özçaglar-Toulouse, 2017. "Ethical qualities in consumption: Towards a theory of care," Post-Print hal-04451514, HAL.
    7. Melanie Richards, 2023. "When do Non-financial Goals Benefit Stakeholders? Theorizing on Care and Power in Family Firms," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 184(2), pages 333-351, May.
    8. Jon Binnie & Julian Holloway & Steve Millington & Craig Young, 2007. "Mundane Geographies: Alienation, Potentialities, and Practice," Environment and Planning A, , vol. 39(3), pages 515-520, March.
    9. Schouten, John W, 1991. "Selves in Transition: Symbolic Consumption in Personal Rites of Passage and Identity Reconstruction," Journal of Consumer Research, Journal of Consumer Research Inc., vol. 17(4), pages 412-425, March.
    10. Jeffery Bray & Nick Johns & David Kilburn, 2011. "An Exploratory Study into the Factors Impeding Ethical Consumption," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 98(4), pages 597-608, February.
    11. Kathy Hamilton & Maria G. Piacentini & Emma Banister & Andres Barrios & Christopher P. Blocker & Catherine A. Coleman & Ahmet Ekici & Hélène Gorge & Martina Hutton & Françoise Passerard & Bige Saatcio, 2014. "Poverty in consumer culture: towards a transformative social representation," Post-Print hal-01099619, HAL.
    12. Michal Carrington & Andreas Chatzidakis & Helen Goworek & Deirdre Shaw, 2021. "Consumption Ethics: A Review and Analysis of Future Directions for Interdisciplinary Research," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 168(2), pages 215-238, January.
    13. Maurice Hamington, 2019. "Integrating Care Ethics and Design Thinking," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 155(1), pages 91-103, March.
    14. Price, Linda L & Arnould, Eric J & Curasi, Carolyn Folkman, 2000. "Older Consumers' Disposition of Special Possessions," Journal of Consumer Research, Journal of Consumer Research Inc., vol. 27(2), pages 179-201, September.
    15. Antoni, Anne & Reinecke, Juliane & Fotaki, Marianna, 2020. "Caring or Not Caring for Coworkers? An Empirical Exploration of the Dilemma of Care Allocation in the Workplace," Business Ethics Quarterly, Cambridge University Press, vol. 30(4), pages 447-485, October.
    16. Deirdre Shaw & Robert McMaster & Terry Newholm, 2016. "Care and Commitment in Ethical Consumption: An Exploration of the ‘Attitude–Behaviour Gap’," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 136(2), pages 251-265, June.
    17. Alexandra Hüttel & Ingo Balderjahn, 2022. "The coronavirus pandemic: A window of opportunity for sustainable consumption or a time of turning away?," Journal of Consumer Affairs, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 56(1), pages 68-96, March.
    18. Lynn A Staeheli & Michael Brown, 2003. "Where Has Welfare Gone? Introductory Remarks on the Geographies of Care and Welfare," Environment and Planning A, , vol. 35(5), pages 771-777, May.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Susi Geiger & Ilaria Galasso & Nora Hangel & Federica Lucivero & Gemma Watts, 2024. "Vulnerability and Response-Ability in the Pandemic Marketplace: Developing an Ethic of Care for Provisioning in Crisis," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 192(3), pages 441-459, July.
    2. Charis X. Li & Xiao-xiao Liu & Jun Ye & Siyu Zheng & Songyin Cai, 2024. "Ethical Pursuit or Personal Nirvana? Unpacking the Practice of Danshari in China," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 191(4), pages 675-695, May.
    3. Melanie Richards, 2023. "When do Non-financial Goals Benefit Stakeholders? Theorizing on Care and Power in Family Firms," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 184(2), pages 333-351, May.
    4. Nina Mesiranta & Malla Mattila & Outi Koskinen & Elina Närvänen, 2025. "Circular Consumption Practices as Matters of Care," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 200(1), pages 13-30, August.
    5. Tan, Teck Ming & Makkonen, Hannu & Kaur, Puneet & Salo, Jari, 2022. "How do ethical consumers utilize sharing economy platforms as part of their sustainable resale behavior? The role of consumers’ green consumption values," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 176(C).
    6. Kutaula, Smirti & Gillani, Alvina & Leonidou, Leonidas C. & Christodoulides, Paul, 2022. "Integrating fair trade with circular economy: Personality traits, consumer engagement, and ethically-minded behavior," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 144(C), pages 1087-1102.
    7. Anne Antoni & Haley Beer, 2024. "Ethical Sensibilities for Practicing Care in Management and Organization Research," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 190(2), pages 279-294, March.
    8. Smirti Kutaula & Alvina Gillani & Diana Gregory-Smith & Boris Bartikowski, 2024. "Ethical Consumerism in Emerging Markets: Opportunities and Challenges," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 191(4), pages 651-673, May.
    9. Rohini R & Daly Paulose Meppurath, 2025. "Dimensions of ethical consumption: A systematic review and future outlook," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 33(2), pages 1892-1908, April.
    10. Patient Rambe & Takawira Munyaradzi Ndofirepi, 2016. "Influence of Small Business Ethics on Buying Decisions of Customers: A case of Indigenous Owned Fast-Food Outlets in Zimbabwe," Journal of Economics and Behavioral Studies, AMH International, vol. 8(5), pages 169-183.
    11. Lianne Foti & Avis Devine, 2019. "High Involvement and Ethical Consumption: A Study of the Environmentally Certified Home Purchase Decision," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(19), pages 1-11, September.
    12. Elizabeth A. Minton, 2022. "Pandemics and consumers' mental well‐being," Journal of Consumer Affairs, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 56(1), pages 5-14, March.
    13. Alex Hiller & Tony Woodall, 2019. "Everything Flows: A Pragmatist Perspective of Trade-Offs and Value in Ethical Consumption," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 157(4), pages 893-912, July.
    14. Verma Prikshat & Parth Patel & Sanjeev Kumar & Suraksha Gupta & Ashish Malik, 2024. "Role of Socio-Cultural Capital and Country-Level Affluence in Ethical Consumerism," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 191(4), pages 697-711, May.
    15. Zhang, Dengjun & Xie, Yifan, 2022. "Customer environmental concerns and profit margin: Evidence from manufacturing firms," Journal of Economics and Business, Elsevier, vol. 120(C).
    16. Kristina Auxtova & Stephanie Schreven & Lucy J. Wishart, 2025. "Refashioning Second-Hand Clothes Consumption Through Pleasure, Pain, Seduction and Conversion: A Virtue Ethics Perspective," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 196(4), pages 863-881, February.
    17. Krishen, Anjala S. & Barnes, Jesse L. & Hu, Han-fen, 2025. "Consumer knowledge and sustainable decision-making: A mixed-method inquiry and proposed model," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 210(C).
    18. Claudio Mirabella & Valeria Borsellino & Antonino Galati & Emanuele Schimmenti & Francesco Caracciolo, 2025. "Enhancing ethical food consumption: the impact of information framing on consumer preferences," Agricultural and Food Economics, Springer;Italian Society of Agricultural Economics (SIDEA), vol. 13(1), pages 1-20, December.
    19. Fernandez, Karen V., 2020. "PROVE it! A practical primer to positioning theoretically," Australasian marketing journal, Elsevier, vol. 28(1), pages 57-64.
    20. Michał Gazdecki & Elżbieta Goryńska-Goldmann & Marietta Kiss & Zoltán Szakály, 2021. "Segmentation of Food Consumers Based on Their Sustainable Attitude," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(11), pages 1-28, May.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:kap:jbuset:v:199:y:2025:i:3:d:10.1007_s10551-024-05829-2. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.springer.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.