I've lived in various mostly developing countries for the past 7 years, and I'm not one to get hung up on the "white privalege" that's currently talked about in the west, but it is hard not to feel guilty at times at the tremendous advantages I have with a western salary and background while living here. And that's before even considering the rampant fetishization of white men in some countries that results in endless dating opportunities. It doesn't seem far removed from the colonial past.
What kind of backlash are you thinking of? When I think of a digital nomad, I'm thinking of a rich white kid spending their money in a holiday destination year round.
Some digital nomads chafe at being charged "farang prices"(foreigner's prices) but the alternative is that locals are priced out.
Its similar to what I call hipsterization. Rich and privileged persons moving to an undeveloped area they deem cool, fancy cafes are opened and real state prices skyrocket.
1. The same people who are highly concerned about economic inequality and "social justice" within western countries today.
2. Locals of developing countries who do no benefit from the foreign spending or are even hurt by it (e.g., middle or upper class locals who lose their relatively privaleged status to foreigners).
3. Local men who see foreigners as "stealing" their women.
It's something that came about as a result of domestic inequalities. Digital Nomads wouldnt be anywhere near as common if property/rents werent sky high back home.
It feels a bit wrong to emphasize privilege for things that also come about as a lack of privilege.
The vast majority of digital nomads I’ve seen absolutely /do not/ have money problems. They’re all really well-off with good safety nets.
Moreover, potential lack of privilege in their home countries is not really comparable to the massive privileges that come with this kind of nomadism.
I did it in my 20s with a view to avoiding inner city rents. Probably with inflation adjusted 1950s property and flight costs I would not have done it.
For me, it was less about "going against" and more about "escaping from".
Of course we have Western privilege. But when I travel, I'm not being an ass and throwing money as I step on locals. I meet locals, eat at local places (as well as touristy/western). From my experience, it seems my presence is welcomed and appreciated. My Western privilege is providing additional income and opportunities for locals. I also avoid the obnoxious DN-bros, because in general I dislike any bro-culture (or overt superiority complex people).
Curious to hear what you mean by that?
The sense of eradication Nomads are looking for can bite you back quite bad. This is something seldom discussed in DN circles, especially by hyper-positive (or toxic positive) digital Bromads of the “I dropship therefore I’m an Internet Entrepreneur” variety. Digital Nomadism is also very often a form of postcolonial and Western privilege. A lot of DN-targeted content focuses on the individual radical choice of going against the typical societal expectations (settle down, get a house, own stuff). What they mostly miss is how this choice is made possible by the inequalities between the West and the rest of the world.
That said, I still regard Digital Nomadism as a positive movement that could benefit from a bit more self-criticism.