Recognizing and resisting internalized capitalism | Environmental Business

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Regular readers of this column may have noticed that although I often write about the economy, I never use the word capitalism. This is not an accident. Many people have strong feelings about capitalism, either loving it or hating it, and those feelings are often rooted in narrowly partisan understandings of what capitalism actually is. As a result, discussing it can quickly deteriorate into unproductive bickering. I have no desire to participate in that, so I typically use the word extractive to refer to the problematic aspects of our economy and the word regenerative to advocate for redesigning our economy to equitably meet human needs and support human wellbeing, while repairing ecosystems and making it possible to live within the boundaries of what our planet can provide.

However, I’m making an exception today, because exploring the idea of “internalized capitalism” has helped me understand some of my own unhelpful ideas and behaviors, as well as those of my colleagues and external collaborators. This is top of mind for me right now, because I recently completed a three-month sabbatical, during which I had hoped/planned to prioritize rest (while also writing a book proposal), and though I did slow down somewhat, it was harder to let go of “the grind” than I had anticipated. Upon reflection, I believe that internalized capitalism almost certainly played a role in that.

In case you’re not familiar with the term, “internalized capitalism” describes when a person (usually unconsciously) adopts the values and expectations of a capitalist economy as their own internal standards, especially in regard to productivity, efficiency and accomplishments. You may be suffering from internalized capitalism if you do any of the following:

• Prioritize work over health, relationships, pleasure, etc.;
• Feel guilty or lazy for taking breaks or engaging in “unproductive” activities;
• Tie your self-worth to your productivity, accomplishments, and/or economic success;
• See everything as a competition and relentlessly pursue “wins”;
• Believe that achievements, wealth, and/or material possessions will make you happy.

Internalized capitalism is typically presented as an entirely bad thing, but my perspective on it is somewhat more nuanced. I recognize that our economic system has created opportunities for innovation that have improved human wellbeing in a variety of ways. For example, I’m grateful for the invention of technologies like dishwashers and washing machines that make it quicker and easier for me to clean my house. In terms of how I have internalized this quality of our economic system, I suspect that my can-do attitude when it comes to problem solving may stem from the spirit of creativity and innovation that our economy fosters. On the flip side, it has probably also contributed to my general distaste for household chores, given that our economy chronically undervalues domestic labor.

During my sabbatical, I noticed that my urge to “be productive” sometimes undermines my ability to actually do good work. For example, my best ideas often come to me when I’m walking the dog, taking a shower, or gardening, but since those activities aren’t included in my job description and don’t look or feel like work, I’m reluctant to dedicate much time to them. So I’ll sit in front of my computer and struggle to figure something out that would immediately pop into my head if I were to just take a break. Then I end up spending even more time at my computer, because I feel like I didn’t accomplish enough, thereby creating a vicious cycle.

Though I’m concerned about my own tendency to overwork and don’t want my health and relationships to suffer because of my job, I believe my specific line of work (addressing the climate crisis) does warrant a sense of urgency and probably some degree of self-sacrifice. Furthermore, I’m typically good at being productive and efficient, and I don’t want those skills to go to waste, so as long as I am applying them toward the cause of making the world a better place, that seems like a strategic and responsible choice. However, I believe there’s truth in the famous Einstein quote about not being able to solve our problems with the same mindset that created them, and it’s clear to me that our culture’s relentless pursuit of more/bigger/faster is largely responsible for getting us into this mess in the first place, so learning to slow down and prioritize rest may actually be the more strategic and responsible choice for me and many other people over the long term.

Ultimately, my personal decisions about whether to work or nap are of little consequence, but as a broader society, it’s important for us to grapple with how our economic system shapes our beliefs about who we are and how we should spend our time and energy. Internalized capitalism is a systemic issue that plays out in our individual minds, and because our cultural obsession with productivity and personal gain can undermine our collective wellbeing, it’s in our best interest to recognize and resist its downsides. As described by The Stand Up Philosophers, those downsides include how capitalism’s “emphasis on individual success and competition… [leads] to social inequality and the marginalisation of those who are unable to keep up with the demands of the market.”

Ironically, writing this column has been unusually challenging for me and has taken much longer than expected, specifically because I am trying to catch up on all the work that didn’t get done during my sabbatical, while also resisting my own workaholism. My fundamental challenge is that I want and need to do more things than I realistically have time for, so compulsively striving for productivity and efficiency feels necessary and strategic. I’m therefore faced with the sad truth that if I don’t overwork, I will accomplish less, at least in terms of accomplishments that our economy and culture values. As it turns out, those external/internalized measures of my worth are surprisingly hard to let go of.

Abigail McHugh-Grifa, Ph.D. is executive director of Climate Solutions Accelerator. Contact her at [email protected].