The Social Importance of Consumption for Inclusion and Exclusion Among Children in a Multi-Ethnic Suburb of Oslo

This article discusses the relationship between social networks and consumption for inclusion among peers in a multicultural suburb of Oslo called Dal. Theoretically informed by network analysis of strong and weak ties, consumption as communication and the concept of economy of dignity, the article shows in detail the things and activities which are important for girls and boys. The study is based on long-term ethnographic fieldwork and shows that focusing on social networks and consumption is a fruitful approach to understand social inclusion/exclusion among children and families with immigrant background in societies characterized by commodification of childhood.