Why do people pretend to be minimalists?

I’ve heard many people with maximalist approaches towards owning things describe themselves as minimalists. Keeping up with the Jones’ is out of vogue, what’s in is appearing satisfied, Feng-shui and Buddhism. Despite the protestations of self-described minimalists, clutter continues to increase, and people feel the need for more. If people self-identify as minimalists, what siren’s song is preventing them from embracing their beliefs? Could minimalism itself be an object, something to be bought and sold when convenient?

Minimalism is based on the idea of only owning what you need. The obvious question is what does needing entail? Do I want that adorable Lilo and Stitch shower curtain, or does it speak to something deep in my psyche, something I yearn for, something I daydream about, something I opine for, something I need? The first reason I think maximalists inhabit minimalist mindsets is that what is needed is unclear, because individuals have different ideas for what they need. After all, if you feel that you need a lot, you will have a lot of stuff, but can still be a minimalist.

But, if you’ve got loads of stuff, at that point, why call yourself a minimalist? I think a lot of it has to do with status. Claiming to be a minimalist suggests that the needs you have are minor, that you are enlightened and transcendent, that you are wise. Generally, people like those who aren’t needy, who require less cultivation to be satisfied. If claiming to be a minimalist suggests you aren’t needy, then you’re rewarded for that trait.

Alternatively, hypocrisy may be a tribute vice pays to virtue. If one is worried about over-consumption and global warming, it would make sense why one should be a minimalist. Owning less stuff in this sense might be the right thing to do, but doing the right thing is challenging. In this sense, claiming to be a minimalist allows consumption off the hook, because it shows a respect for the ‘correct’ values. Minimalism might have similar roots to how rich students pretend to be poor at elite universities to convey a sense of modesty.