'Tis the Season for Shaming People That Celebrate Holidays and Feed Capitalism!
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12/04/25
In this episode of Please Say The Dailey, Vanisha talks about the controversial topic of how holiday celebrations are often tied to consumerism and capitalism. She discusses why some people feel judged or ostracized for “participating” in holidays, even when their celebration is rooted in family, joy, or tradition rather than consumer excess. She questions whether holiday-shaming is ever actually justified and what role capitalism plays in shaping our holiday behaviors and feelings of guilt. Whether you love or hate the holidays, this conversation offers a chance to reflect on celebration, societal pressure, consumer culture, and personal choice.
Transcript:
You are now tuned in to Vanisha R. Dailey. Please say the Dailey. Hey, hey, y'all. Welcome back to another episode of Please Say the Dailey. I am your host, Vanisha R. Daile y, and this is episode 15. Today we are going to be diving into a topic that comes up every single year. We are currently in the thick of holiday season, so I'm hoping that this message catches you at the perfect time. So, like I said, this comes up every single year, especially online, and that's the conversation around capitalism, the holidays, and this growing trend of shaming people for how they choose to celebrate them. And listen, as someone that studies sociology, I absolutely believe in using our voices as a means of activism, especially when we're calling attention to systems we've normalized. These are systems that heavily exploit us. But here's the thing, we have to be careful about how the message comes off. Because a message about liberation can easily turn into a message about moral superiority. And that's not helpful to anybody. But wait, before we jump in, go ahead and make sure that you are subscribed. Let's get into it. Let's start with what capitalism is. Capitalism is an economic system where private individuals or corporations control production. Goods and services are bought and sold for profit, and economic life centers around markets rather than communal or state ownership. Its foundations are competition, private property, wage labor, and unequal power dynamics. Historically, capitalism evolved alongside of European colonial expansion, racial hierarchy, and extraction-based economies. We're seeing this happen all across the world. And this means that from the beginning, capitalism grew by exploiting land, labor, and resources, especially the labor of enslaved Africans. So when we talk about capitalism today, we're not just talking about shopping at Target, which we do not, by the way. We're talking about a system with deep roots in colonialism, slavery, and inequality. So what systems are a part of capitalism? Unfortunately, everything. But more specifically, our financial system, the labor system, education system, housing, health care, agriculture, and food distribution, media, entertainment, technology, policing, and the prison industrial complex. Capitalism shapes how we work, how we live, rest, and even how we celebrate. Which brings us back to the holidays. Every year without fail, people hop on social media to
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Vanisha R. Dailey, Please Say The Dailey
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