Its a Mall World After All

Like, O, my, gosh, that color so like nice on you. You should like definitely buy that girlfriend its like so totally you. Does this remind you of anyone? The mall rat is no longer just a suburban American girl. Now African, Asian, Middle Eastern and even Canadian teenagers are becoming a part of that scene. This is because of major expansion and exportation of western malls across the globe. I believe that this mall expansion is a very good thing in boosting the economy, socially improving culture and creating a civic center for communities.

Mac Margolis writes in his article titled It’s a Mall World After All about how beneficial malls are to many societies. He begins his article with a very impressive feet Saudi Arabia’s Kingdom Center mall. Margolis says that the Saudi people are not consumer innocents and have been buying products from many western cultures for many years. But the fact that they were able to lure the most important consumer, women, to their mall by creating a complete floor to them where they are allowed to shed their veils and shop freely without upsetting the Saudi laws is very impressive in such a restrictive culture. It has become the most profitable floor in the entire mall. Mac states that the Kingdom Centre may not be revolutionary in the fact that women are burning their veils and marching for change. It represents a small meaningful piece of freedom for the Saudi women. Margolis also states that shopping malls have become one of America’s chief exports. Mac writes there are malls popping up everywhere around the world. For example in 1999 India had only three malls and when this story was written there were forty five malls. It is soon expected to rise to three hundred by 2010. Margolis last point is that malls are becoming civic centers in many communities. They are attracting banks, art galleries, motor vehicle departments and even catholic churches. Margolis says that these malls bring communities together in a safe comfortable atmosphere.

I fully agree with Mac Margolis’ article. I believe that the globalization of malls is in general a good thing for the world. I am greatly impressed with the Saudi Arabian mall that influenced the governing culture to allow its women to shed their veils. How with this small act I believe that it is a small step in the right direction. The mall is becoming a community center where people can go to shop, converse, eat, and just visit in comfort. The mall is also place that can influence change in culture for the better.

The mall “boom” is creating a boost in many economies. The arms race between countries to have the biggest and best malls on earth creates a great competitive field for sellers to compete in. Which I believe increases consumer spending and a larger job market in counties that need it. I was shocked to find that there were so many large malls even bigger than the Mall of America. I also have to agree with Mac’s point on mall development being the catalyst for growth in developing counties. With outside investors trying to start something and putting money into underdeveloped countries is important for their growth. Developing these countries and moving them into the global marketplace.

I like the fact that the owners of all of these malls have realized that their customers no longer want to just come to a mall to shop but that they want to experience the mall. So malls are no longer white walled with a couple fake plants but now elaborate and extravagant places resembling the places that they have replaced, such as old world streets and piazzas. Almost like the malls that are being built are influencing the culture it is built in and the culture in return is influencing the mall back.

Malls are a good thing in our world and should continue to be a part of our culture. I believe that we should continue to embrace what they are doing and continue to build the malls so that our world will become a better place because of it.