[sp332]

"Consumer" is a useful term in economics, but it has negative stereotypical meanings in everyday use.

[jamesbritt]

"negative stereotypical meanings in everyday use."

For whom?

And when does it come up in "everyday use"? I mean, aside from being used by economists or businesses when talking about economics or business?

[SkyMarshal]

You should read up on the historical development of the use of language and linguistics to shape culture and society, both from the advertising industry and from the feminist movement.

The contemporary labeling of citizens as consumers is no accident, and not just an artifact of the mainstreaming of the economics field.