Frustration over ‘disingenuous’ trend

A TREND of former private school students from Melbourne turning their backs on affluence to pursue an opshopping, tote-bag wearing lifestyle in their early 20s is beginning to frustrate a growing number of Victorians.

The trend has caught the attention of University of Melbourne tutor and cultural studies expert Dr Harriette Richards, who said factors including associating with the left side of politics and constructing an identity independent of wealthy parents made the lifestyle seem “cool”.

“It’s disingenuous in many ways, but it is a trend, and it’s wrapped up in these bigger political issues, climate awareness and sustainable purchase practices,” Dr Richards said.

“To refer back to the growth of youth culture in the 60s and 70s, youth culture was built on thrift, not having a lot of money and having to create an identity apart from one’s parents that was independent and very different from what you’ve come from. This sense that wealth and privilege is associated with the right and conservative values, that’s perhaps playing into it too.”

Dr Richards said there was an irony in privileged young adults acting broke while they were supported by a wealthy family.

But the movement could inadvertently trivialise the needs of those who genuinely battle to make ends meet, she said.

“I do think it is a bit disingenuous, because it is a real hiding of that privilege that these people are often quite happy to fall back on if things go sideways.”