There’s no doubt money affects not only how we are perceived by others, but also how we choose to present ourselves to the outside world. Whether consciously or not, chances are you partake in both sides of this effect.
Whether you’re judging someone by the way they are dressed, admiring an expensive watch, or spending your bonus on a flashy piece of merchandise, you’re buying into the rat race of creating your financial identity.
The question has to be asked: why do we care about other people’s finances and how they spend their money?
It ought to be nobody’s business whether you have a million in the bank or a few cents, but this is almost never the case.
As a society, we seem to be obsessed with showing off how much currency we’ve been able to accumulate, to the point where we are losing the ability to judge people by anything other than their perceived wealth.
We don’t judge people by their wealth, for people seldom disclose their bank account information. Rather we judge them on how they choose to show off their wealth.
This fact is easily proven by how we choose to spend our money and how society reacts to our choices. Why would a person buy a gold chain, an expensive watch, or a Supreme hoodie? The reason isn’t practical. It’s a matter of identity.
It seems that the Western outlook on wealth has truly embraced Ronald Wright’s philosophy. Poor people in the West often don’t see themselves as conventionally poor or as exploited underclasses, but rather as “temporarily embarrassed millionaires.”
We are socially expected to appear wealthy, despite this often not being the case—whether by wearing a suit to work at a low-paying job or certain students showing up to classes armed to the teeth in Supreme gear.
No matter the situation, the implication is clear. Even the relatively poor portions of society have an unwritten obligation to hide their lack of wealth behind closed doors.
With this identity, comes an obligation to maintain the part, much like an actor in a play—flashing any wealth one may have has become a core part of Western culture, and it all comes down to how we want to be perceived.
So, why do people who don’t have the financial capability to buy a newspaper end up with a gold chain, expensive watch, and designer clothes? Because it allows them to appear as a wealthier version of themselves. Showing off material wealth permits us to embody the millionaire we believe is within us, just waiting to come out.
This also explains why you rarely see actual rich people flashing wealth. Money talks, but wealth whispers. Luxury brands like Supreme and Rolex aren’t marketed to truly wealthy people. While expensive, they are only as pricey as they can be while remaining a (somewhat) accessible status symbol for the everyday person.
While there are exceptions, it’s worth keeping an eye open to how people present themselves.
Whether you’re poor, faux rich or wealthy, we all have identities to present to the outside world. In today’s world of social media and e-bragging, it’s easy to get caught up with comparing ourselves to others. We have to remember our financial identities are crafted. Some have less options to craft their identity than others, but we all choose how we present ourselves.
If any advice can be taken away from this, it’s to focus less on how the world sees you and how wealthy you appear to strangers. Instead, care more about what you actually are and how you are seen by those close to you.
File photo.
