In the last few years, Gen Z has created a dynamic new movement. They’re doing so in a big way by challenging the cultural stigmas around flaunting riches, particularly in Southeast Asia. In Indonesia, Australia, Nepal, and the Philippines, an amazing and growing group of young activists are making every attempt to ensure their voices are heard. They’re taking on political elites and public figures who show off their riches, usually at the cost of the rest of us. The resulting nationwide conversation has opened up critical discussions about privilege, inequality, and the responsibility of those in power.
Wealth flaunting in Indonesia only really started emerging in the 1970s and 80s. Anthropologist Charlotte Setijadi calls these transformative decades the launching pad for this social phenomenon. As the long boom went on, material success itself became the status dominant’s most powerful status symbol, distorting hopes, values and ambitions. In contrast, Thomas White, a former press secretary to Australia’s prime minister, emphasizes the country’s distinctive cultural landscape, in which there is strong social stigma against openly exhibiting wealth. This stigma further acts to cover up the very real inequities that exist within our communities today.
The advent of social media has only increased the volume of these conversations. Gen Z social media geniuses such as Aries Arugay make national security whistleblowers look like amateurs. These are heroes, shining a bright spotlight on the swanky lifestyles of elected officials and their extended families. This scrutiny has resulted in greater accountability for those found guilty of turning public funds toward personal gain.
The Impact of Social Media
Now, social media platforms like Twitter and Instagram have opened the floodgates to expose circumvent nuanced conversations around wealth and privilege. Shrinkhala Khatiwada, an instant celebrity in Nepal who had more than 900,000 followers on Instagram, received brutal harassment. Her critics claimed her lifestyle was lavish and that she abused public property. Khatiwada was soon criticized as a “nepo baby,” or someone who benefits from family connections. That’s what cost her an estimated loss of 100,000 followers.
After this criticism, Khatiwada wrote an extended defense of herself on social media. She provided reams of Excel spreadsheets detailing her complete income and expenditures, claiming complete transparency about the way she funded her trips.
“I categorically deny ever misusing taxpayers’ money, engaging in corruption, or benefiting from any form of unfair privilege or ‘nepo baby’ advantage,” – Shrinkhala Khatiwada
Khatiwada’s plight is an example of the growing frustration of younger people around the world. They’re angry with elites who flaunt their wealth and pretend not to notice growing social divides.
The Generational Divide
Shreeyukta Panta’s attitudes toward the elite have changed over the years as she has seen—and experienced—the pushback against people like Khatiwada. At first she looked up to successful people, but when they started to tell her critics that they were just jealous, she grew disillusioned. Panta cautions that demonstrations of wealth aren’t categorically evil. She continues to make the case that rubbingly displaying wealth at the expense of others is absolutely deplorable.
“Flaunting wealth and degrading people at the same time was the main issue for me,” – Shreeyukta Panta
The sentiment resonates with many young people across Southeast Asia who are frustrated with political dynasties that showcase their wealth while the average citizen struggles economically. Nicole Yaneza-Bagatsing at Equity and Beyond is appalled at this inequity. In doing so, she raises her voice alongside students Thomas White and Paris Mina to call for accountability from those who wield political power.
Changing Conversations on Wealth
The cultural conversation about wealth is changing fast. As Charlotte Setijadi observes, in Indonesia, economic achievement was historically considered an important indicator of happiness and progress. Unfortunately, this view is becoming the myth, especially challenged by younger generations more attuned to social inequities.
Thomas White points out that a great deal of self-presentation labour goes into appearing middle or working-class. This facade hides much deeper societal issues festering just below the surface. He writes that this behavior makes messaging around privilege and inequality much more difficult.
“Everyone therefore acts like they’re poor, which I think is a different kind of problem,” – Thomas White
As Aries Arugay reminds us, ostentatious displays of wealth are always problematic. They are not necessarily bad if they are from honest motives. The problem, as always, is separating out inherited wealth — aka privilege — from earned success.
“The old wealth, there’s nothing to aspire to there because it’s intergenerational wealth,” – Aries Arugay
This tangential but real flip side to wealth perception is changing the possibilities available to a large number of young people.
