Money Speaks: The Language of Capitalism
Have you noticed that everything is an economy now? We have the attention economy, the wellness economy, knowledge economies and sexual recessions. Time is spent. Trust is earned. Anything can be bought, and more importantly everything should be sold. With the unbridled rise of capitalism in the west — and its explosion thanks to technologically aided globalization — our daily experiences are increasingly viewed and understood in economic, productivity focused, value based terms. This shift in how we speak may seem low stakes, but language has the power to fundamentally shift how we perceive and experience the world around us, and I for one am burnt out on economy-talk.
The pervasive influence of capitalism has seeped into every aspect of our lives. It has become the lens through which we are told to view the world, shaping our identities and relationships. We hustle, we #GirlBoss, we build our identities around our bank accounts and watch videos on how to be more efficient. The language of the economy has become our lingua franca, dictating our interactions and distorting our understanding of what it means to be alive.
In the attention economy, our worth is measured by the number of likes, shares, and followers we amass. We are constantly engaged in a competition for attention, reducing our relationships and experiences to mere transactions. Authentic connections are sacrificed in the pursuit of validation, as we curate our lives to fit the marketable image we believe will gain us the most social capital. The wellness economy commodifies self-care and self-improvement, bombarding us with advertisements that present it as a luxury attainable only through purchase, creating shame and pressure for those who don’t conform. Even knowledge, once seen as a pursuit for its own sake, has been transformed into a marketable commodity. Education is increasingly viewed as an investment, measured by its return in terms of future earning potential — divorcing us from the joy of curiosity and discovery. By trying to force the entire messy, contradictory, expansive human experience into a neat economic box, its no wonder mental health is at an all time low
The consequences of this shift in cultural vocabulary extend beyond the individual level. It shapes public policy, determining how resources are allocated and what is deemed valuable in society. It reinforces systemic inequalities, perpetuating the idea that everything is quantifiable and reducible to its economic value — erasing the nuances and diversity of human experience, and marginalizing those who do not fit neatly into market categories. It paints time as a finite resource to be wasted, spent, budgeted and saved, fueling the rise of productivity culture — and the stress, anxiety, and burnout that come with it — where every moment must be maximized for efficiency and achievement. The dominance of the economic paradigm stifles alternative ways of thinking, preventing us from envisioning a world where human flourishing and well-being take precedence over profit.
So what can we do to break free from economy-talk? We need to be intentional with our language and challenge the pervasive narrative that reduces our experiences to economic output. We need to shift our vocabulary towards the immeasurable aspects of life — the joy, the love, the beauty that cannot be quantified or bought. We need to build a cultural lexicon that embraces the complexity and richness of human experience, fostering a culture of empathy, connection, and the pursuit of genuine well-being.
Where can we start? We need to learn from diverse cultures around the world to create a transformative path forward:
Indigenous Wisdom: Indigenous cultures often have a deep connection to the land and a reverence for nature. Their languages often incorporate terms and concepts that emphasize interconnectedness, balance, and stewardship rather than transactional thinking. By embracing their language models, we can shift our focus from exploiting resources to nurturing and preserving them for the well-being of all.
Eastern Philosophies: Philosophies like Buddhism and Taoism emphasize mindfulness, non-attachment, and the pursuit of inner harmony. These traditions have developed nuanced vocabularies to describe states of consciousness, personal growth, and interconnectedness. Incorporating their language models can help us foster a greater sense of self-awareness, acceptance, and a deeper understanding of our place in the world.
African Ubuntu: The concept of Ubuntu, rooted in many African cultures, emphasizes the interconnectedness of humanity. Ubuntu encapsulates the idea that "I am because we are" and highlights the importance of community, compassion, and shared responsibility. By embracing Ubuntu's language model, we can shift our focus from individualistic pursuits to a more collective mindset that values cooperation and the well-being of the community.
Japanese Aesthetics: Japanese culture offers unique aesthetics like Wabi-Sabi, which celebrates the beauty of imperfection and impermanence, and Ma, which refers to the concept of negative space and pauses in between. These language models invite us to appreciate the present moment, find beauty in simplicity, and embrace the natural ebb and flow of life.
In a world where “cash is king” it may seem like an uphill battle to reshape our collective mindset, but history has shown that a shift in language and a willingness to challenge norms can topple even the most fortified kingdoms. Long live language.