Full Idea
When society puts things out of reach for people, they typically learn not to want those things. ..By defining the social goal in terms of satisfaction of actual preferences, utilitarian approaches often reinforce the status quo, which may be very unjust.
Gist of Idea
We shouldn't focus on actual preferences, which may be distorted by injustices
Source
Martha Nussbaum (Creating Capabilities [2011], 3)
Book Reference
Nussbaum,Martha C.: 'Creating Capabilities' [Belknap Harvard 2013], p.54
A Reaction
Maximising happiness is potentially very paternalistic, whereas preference satisfaction is not, which aligns utilitarianism better with liberalism. It is notorious that slaves can be contented with their slavery, and battered wives can remain loyal.