You wouldn't know it to look at us now (2 corporate jobs, small comfortable home, 2 small kids), but my husband and I both had a strong affinity for the punk movement in our younger days, me more so than him. The appeal of it to me was that I never had much tolerance for bullshit, and growing up in an uptight, WASPy, striving upper middle class town, there was plenty of bullshit to rebel against.
Now, in order to support our family and build for our future, we have developed an uneasy détente with the bullshit. This was necessary to get and hold jobs. But, knowing that we're at or near FI, I don't have any anxiety about losing my job and I don't feel obligated to hold my tongue at work. I try not to be rude or unkind, but I call bullshit where I see it. For the most part, it's worked out well. My coworkers seem to respect me, and, more importantly, I respect myself.
And we got to FI by rebelling in ways big and small--keeping our crappy apartment and car even when our incomes went up, not going to shitty yuppie bars, etc. This also allows us to donate heavily and often to causes we value. I'm not out in the streets as much as I used to be, but I'm funding those who are.
TL/DR -- FI is, first and foremost, independence. Independence allows you to either go along with or buck the status quo as you see fit. And fuck the bullshit.