Interrupting Capitalism

In middle school, eighth grade had a mystery home-room period.  There didn’t seem to be any standardized agenda, so each teacher could use the time as they wished.  One day, my teacher (Mr. K, if you will) decided to preach Capitalism.  But he didn’t call it that–he just said he wanted to talk to us about the history of money.

Mr. K began by explaining a bartering system–providing examples of trading farm animals–and then suggested introducing money into the scenario: something with a commonly understood value. “Does everybody see how that would be better?” he asked, without explaining the merits of either set-up.  Unsure of why we were discussing this at all, the whole class said yes in unison.  Everybody except me.  I was the sole, but declarative, no.

“Why do you not see that that’s better?” Mr. K asked me.  His skeptical tone indicated that this was not really up for debate.  Being thirteen, on the spot, and not immediately sure of what I thought, I didn’t say much.  The foundations of a pre-Capitalist society made me wary, though I wasn’t sure how to articulate that.  There are many arguments to be made in favor of a common denominator of economic value, yet I wasn’t ready to concede that there weren’t cases in which trading a pig for several chickens might work better.

Fast Forward Nine Years:

That conversation stuck with me.  I remembered it this morning while thinking about an excellent workshop I attended at the Femme Conference in August.  The lecture was about contextualizing femmephobia within other intersecting oppressions.  While discussing Capitalism, the presenter (the brilliant Kim Katrin Crosby) spoke about her desire to avoid Capitalist transactions wherever possible, in favor of exchanging labors of love.  Examples: a massage, hair braiding, emotional care, a custom-made dress, homemade dinner, etc.

Under-the-table transactions–untaxed sex work, babysitting, snow shoveling–all function outside of the mainstream Capitalist system in small ways.  You set your own prices on a case-by-case basis and are less enmeshed in competitive markets.  Even keeping your money under your mattress instead of locked in a corporate bank sidesteps the system by withdrawing slightly from it.  (No, I’m not suggesting that y’all run and stuff your life savings under your beds, though that is an option.)

What you’re currently reading is not an explanation of how and why Capitalism functions, or at whose expense.  There are multiple varieties of Capitalism and ways for it to occur; we can all spiel about political theory on another occasion.  This is about to become abundantly obvious, but I’ll let you in on a not-secret: I consider Capitalism to be a pervasive and oppressive system that perpetuates social inequalities as well as economic ones.  That is literally its raison d’être and all this plays out very successfully.  See: almost anywhere that was colonized by Western Europe or the United States.

What does it mean that the most valuable thing in our society (according to most people and institutions) is cloth imprinted with the faces of slaveowners?  This is what we work for, save, and how many people view their value in life.  As much I have to face the reality of living in a Capitalist society and relying on money to survive–y’all know I gotta buy those shoes CTA passes–I am enticed by the idea of trading skills, emotional care, and personally produced things instead of money.  Hmmmm.

What could I get?

• Massages
• Emotional work (talking with friends, emotional comfort, laughter, cuddles)
• Food and drinks
• Whatever skills my fabulous friends have (fixing bikes, printmaking, self-defense lessons, etc.)
• Editing (of writing, photos, videos)
• Jewelry
• Academic knowledge
• Letters and care packages
• Clothing
• Oh my god does anyone I know know how to make shoes?

What could I give?

• Massages
• Haircuts
• Emotional work (cuddles, more cuddles, talking, laughing, other fun times)
• Food and drinks
• Hair and makeup styling
• Reviewing/editing writing
• Fixing clothes and other minor sewing projects
• Costume design and construction
• Acting/singing/public speaking coaching
• Dance lessons
• Academic knowledge
• Letters and care packages
• Wardrobe styling
• Story time! (reading to friends)
• Transportation, company on errands and other trips
• Volunteer time for causes/organizations

(Awesome poster from an event hosted by The Audre Lorde Project)

Moving toward bartered exchanges like these–instead of buying everything you need/want from third parties*–isn’t some magic solution to the perils of Capitalism.  Yet it raises some interesting opportunities: the chance for a communal skill-share, rather than the Capitalist model of taking as much as you can and hoarding it.  In making these lists, I got to think specifically about what skills and knowledge I have and can contribute, as well as what my friends can do.  We already do tons of stuff for the people around us (I mean, if you have friends and are older than six, you probably do) without necessarily thinking about it.  What if we thought more intentionally about what we give to our communities, what we need from them, and how to give/get most directly?  It may often be about the economy, stupid, but it doesn’t always have to be about the money.

*Often by giving your money to corporations–they’re everywhere and their products are cheaper than those from small businesses