Classy if you're rich, trashy if you're poor
Ana Samways’ viral Twitter thread from 2016 asks the question “What's considered trashy if you're poor, but classy if you're rich?” This topic regularly resurfaces on the Internet and the responses speak to a relatable paradox where the same behaviors or possessions are seen positively if you’re of a privileged class or status (read: wealthy or influential) and negatively if you don’t belong to said social group (read: low class).
The list goes on, but here are a few:
Ripped clothing
Speaking more than 1 language
Selling cannabis
Leopard print
Avoiding paying your taxes
Wearing designer brands
Old cars
Drug addiction
Not working
Getting things for free
Tiny homes
The state of Florida (see: Florida Man)
I’m writing this because I’ve had many conversations with friends about a few controversial terms and I want to finally speak my piece!
Expat v. Immigrant
Immigrant if you’re poor, expat if you’re rich.
I’ve had this conversation with friends, colleagues, and family about whether or not “expat” or expatriate is a classist term.
I remember reading Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s novel, Americanah, a few years back. Ifemelu describes moving to the United States at age 19 from Nigeria for university and experiencing what it meant to be “Black” by American standards. Nigerians have all shades of skin tones from light to dark brown, and there is racial and tribal hierarchy, but never did she think of herself as “Black,” whereas in America this identity was imposed upon her including all of the charged racial politics and history this label implies.
Yes, I’m an immigrant because I was born in America and I migrated to France with a possible intention of building a life in a foreign country for an undetermined period of time. Yes, I’m an expatriate because I voluntarily left my country of origin for another to live abroad. I can call myself an immigrant when I’m frustrated with French bureaucracy or when I have to report to the prefecture, or I can call myself an expat when I introduce myself in conversation. I feel mostly indifferent about the two terms and that in itself is ✨privilege✨.
After a few sentences, my petit accent gives me away, I’m asked where I’m from and there is a distinct intrigue when I say “I’m American.” If I called myself an immigrant, society would view me as an expat simply because of the passport privilege* I carry. I have no choice in the matter, and neither do you.
I’ve experienced and witnessed this several times. There is no real way to guess whether or not I was born in France by looking at me. It’s plausible. The treatment in some restaurants and public spaces when it’s assumed I’m French African as opposed to when they realize I’m not is a full 180° moment. The prejudice is unflinching.
So yes, expatriate is a classist term, but it doesn’t matter how you wish to be perceived. Even if you want to call yourself an expat instead of an immigrant (or vice versa), society has already determined how they see you through the lens of prejudice. I’m not saying it’s ideal, but it’s the truth. When I moved from the U.S. to France my identity shifted from “Black woman” to “American”. I don’t know if this is inherently good or bad but it definitely illuminates the nuance in how we see ourselves versus how we are seen. It’s worth further reflection.
One of my favorite films on the topic of race and identity is Raoul Peck’s 2016 documentary I Am Not Your Negro (based on James Baldwin's unfinished manuscript Remember This House).
Passport privilege
The advantages and ease of travel that individuals possess based on the strength and reputation of the passport issued by their country of citizenship. Passport privilege highlights global inequalities and how geopolitical and economic factors impact individuals' freedom of movement.
Digital Nomad v. Remote Worker
Digital Nomad if you’re colonizing, remote worker if you contribute to the local economy.
The world was forced into an era of remote work during the pandemic in 2020 and working norms were changed forever. Some employers have started to mandate a return to a more standard office environment but almost all workers now expect a certain degree of flexibility from their workplace. Forbes reports that 98% of workers want to work remotely at least some of the time.
There is a difference between being a “digital nomad” and a “remote worker,” however, and digital nomads aren’t necessarily gaining the most positive reputation. Working remotely can simply mean working from home or a fixed location that is away from your primary office. Some remote workers don’t have a primary office, yet they’re expected to work in the city, state, or region where they’ve been hired (typically for tax purposes). Digital nomads are generally location agnostic and can essentially perform their responsibilities from anywhere in the world.
Enter cultural shift: the dream is no longer owning your own home, but traveling and benefiting from the highest degree of freedom your situation will allow. More and more countries are creating digital nomad visas to boost their economies, offering many people the opportunity to take their sizable paychecks to much smaller economies, and inviting a new wave of economic displacement and gentrification for locals and expat hubs for internationals. Libson is a recent example. There are many ways to be a digital nomad, but there are certainly some who do not contribute to the local economy or immerse themselves in the local culture.
There are a few equitable coliving initiatives to counteract this trend and some writers are covering this topic on Substack.
shares his thoughts on the concept of “Mission-Based Nomadism.”’ Lauren Razavi and ’s Marko Ayling get into it in their four-part series: Global Gentrification — Are Digital Nomad’s Ruining Everything?
Globalization & Privilege in the Loneliness Economy
Globalization has allowed for greater access to information. More people can travel and connect with different places, spaces, and experiences than any other time in history, BUT it has also contributed to social fragmentation, with everyone picking and choosing who they want to be in community with. The wealthier and more privileged can build their own bubbles as digital nomads, for example, and opt-out of social problems.
Note to self: As I explore new products and communities that seek to bring people closer together, think about who has access to those spaces and whether or not everything needs to be curated. There’s something wholesome about serendipity and something special about equal access experiences.
The Loneliness Economy newsletter 🌻
Thanks for reading! It’s a fun practice for me to write to gather my thoughts on these topics. Share with a friend if you’ve found my words interesting or helpful. Comment below if you have anything to add.