Introduction
One of the most enduring associations of “the American Dream” is with the aspiration to better one’s economic condition. Those making changes for the better view this as a warning of good things. The American Dream is predicated on the idea that everyone has the right to happiness and success (Cain, 2020).
Equal opportunity, the idea that everyone, regardless of their origins or other considerations, should have the same shot at success in life, is central to the American Dream (Iheduru-Anderson & Wahi, 2021). However, it is becoming more apparent that the promise of equal opportunity in the American Dream is a mirage. Despite the prevalent perception to the contrary, there is no such thing as equal opportunity in the United States. For minority groups, in particular, it is not the shining example of equality and fair treatment that it portrays itself as (Reay, 2020). The structural inequalities that prevent specific individuals from sharing in the advantages enjoyed by others may be traced back to racism, sexism, and classism.
The Ideal of the American Dream
The American Dream represents the idea that all individuals, no matter their background or economic status, can achieve their goals through hard effort and ambitious aspirations. Millions of individuals from all over the world have come to the United States to pursue this concept. However, the promise of equal opportunity in the American Dream is seldom realized.
Some individuals believe that realizing the American Dream is impossible because success requires a particular set of skills or experiences. However, it has been said that anybody willing to put in the time and effort may achieve great success in the United States. Roberts and Mayo (2019) argue that the American school system’s commitment to equal opportunity makes it the best in the world. The free market and enough job openings also make climbing the corporate ladder a realistic possibility. They also stress that everyone should be able to follow their passions because of the protections afforded by human rights and political liberties.
Barriers to Equal Opportunity
Conversely, many claim that equal opportunity in the United States is little more than a myth. A significant barrier to equitable opportunity, for instance, is poverty (Iheduru-Anderson, 2020). Schools that serve a disproportionate number of children from low-income families may lack the necessary resources and educational opportunities.
This dramatically disadvantages those who come from less privileged backgrounds. A person’s chances in life are also heavily influenced by their race and ethnic heritage. Systemic racism and discrimination persist, reducing opportunities for people of color (Davis, 2020).
It has also become more difficult for those from lower-income groups to access the resources they need to thrive as the wealth gap between the affluent and poor in America has widened. In addition, realizing the American Dream, particularly as a young person, has grown more challenging. People find it difficult to achieve financial stability and success due to the high cost of education and healthcare, as well as stagnating salaries (Roberts & Mayo, 2019). Low-wage workers have thus been hit hardest by the epidemic’s economic effects, further contributing to the issue of income inequality.
Overall, debate continues about whether or not each person is believed to have the same opportunity to attain the American Dream. Contrary to popular belief, not every American has the same level of access to resources. Those who are poor at birth have additional challenges in today’s society due to structural obstacles and inequities. Understanding the American Dream’s bounds is crucial for progressing toward a more egalitarian society. This might be accomplished by removing current structural inequalities and enacting legislation that levels the playing field for all Americans.
Systemic Inequities and Social Identity
An American myth that everyone, regardless of socioeconomic status, color, or ethnicity, has an equal opportunity to succeed has persisted for decades. Unfortunately, not everyone is allowed to achieve the American Dream. Opportunity, resources, and connections are required for success (Valderama-Wallace & Apesoa-Varano, 2019). However, these possibilities are not shared equitably, and some groups confront more significant obstacles than others. The American Dream has numerous shortcomings, but one of the most significant is that it ignores global inequity. Despite popular belief, not everyone gets the same shot at the American Dream.
There are disparities in access to resources between persons of various ethnicities, sexes, and economic classes. For instance, research has shown that individuals from low-income families are less likely to achieve economic success than those from middle- or upper-class families (Taylor, 2020). Race and gender-based prejudices have also been significant barriers to achieving the American Dream. There has been progress in civil rights throughout the years, yet racism persists in many ways. Iheduru-Anderson (2020) cites statistics showing that African Americans, Native Americans, and Latinxs are more likely to be born into poverty, have less access to decent education, and experience discrimination in employment, housing, and other sectors. Furthermore, women, people of color, and immigrants are disproportionately subject to discrimination, which hinders their progress.
The Myth of Meritocracy and Social Support
Another flaw of the American Dream is that it encourages individuality above the common good. The belief that one’s effort and initiative are ultimately responsible for success produces a misleading story by ignoring the role of systemic influences (Cain, 2020). For instance, a child born into poverty has little choice over whether or not they get a good education, adequate healthcare, or a nurturing upbringing. The American Dream ignores the importance of community and social responsibility to ensure everyone has equal opportunities to thrive.
The American Dream also often promotes the mythical concept of the self-made man. Most successful individuals have benefited from advantages that less fortunate people lack. For instance, successful business owners have advantages that others lack, such as access to startup financing, coaching, and networking opportunities (Reay, 2020). In addition, successful people often have families and networks that support them financially and emotionally, which is essential to their achievements. The importance of social and societal support to success is downplayed in the American Dream, which emphasizes the individual’s efforts alone.
Finally, the American Dream is heavily dependent on geography. Those fortunate enough to call prosperous, educational, and socially stable communities home are more likely to succeed (Roberts & Mayo, 2019). There is a lack of resources and chances for upward mobility in many low-income communities.
Economic and Racial Inequality Undermining the Dream
Taylor (2020) argues that societal disparities make realizing the American Dream unattainable. According to the author, these disparities arise because more individuals live in poverty than affluence in the United States (Taylor,2020). The wealth disparity between whites and blacks is the most glaring manifestation of inequality in the United States.
Valderama-Wallace and Apesoa-Varano (2019) found that white families had a weekly median income of $127 more than black families. This implies that even when comparing people with identical education and experience levels, African Americans often make less money than their white colleagues. Since many families suffer under the weight of poverty when one or two persons do not make enough money for everyone in the family, this discrepancy may frequently contribute to more excellent poverty rates among black Americans (Iheduru-Anderson, 2020).
The fact that there are now more impoverished individuals in the United States may be used to bolster this claim. While the U.S. population expanded by 96 million between 1960 and 1990, the number of people living in poverty rose by 30 million, as reported by Taylor (2020). Something has changed over time if the number of persons born in this nation after 1960 is more than it was before. The capacity to attain equality of opportunity via education is another area in which inequality plays a role.
In modern America, a person’s level of education is a significant factor in deciding the kind of work they may find after graduation. For instance, people from lower socioeconomic statuses are often less well-off than their more privileged counterparts. Multiple research findings indicate that even within groups of people with equivalent levels of education, those who originate from low-income homes have a lower lifetime income than those from high-income families (Iheduru-Anderson, 2020; Davis, 2020).
Inequality of this kind has far-reaching consequences, limiting opportunities in every sphere of life, from educational attainment to social mobility. The idea of the American Dream runs deep in the American psyche. It is the belief that everyone, regardless of their origin or socioeconomic status, can make a good life for themselves if they strive for it. However, as time has progressed, many individuals have begun to question the integrity of this idea.
In recent years, there has been a rise in the widespread but unfounded idea that not everyone can achieve the American Dream. Some will dismiss this as foolishness, and others will claim it is the honest-to-goodness truth. One prominent argument against the concept that some people benefit more than others from the American Dream is the belief that everyone has the same chance for success. This way of thinking originates from the popular notion that success in the United States is based on individual merit.
According to proponents of this view, anybody who puts in the time and effort may realize the American Dream (Roberts & Mayo, 2019). Additionally, Roberts and Mayo (2019) say that anybody can succeed regardless of their upbringing or socioeconomic class, so long as they are willing to put in the time, effort, and dedication necessary to get there.
Economic Mobility as a Counterargument
One rebuttal to this view is that economic mobility exists in the United States. Although there may be income and wealth gaps, this argument recognizes that individuals may close the gap via hard effort and perseverance. Those born at a disadvantage may improve their circumstances through effort and dedication, and those who have already achieved success can keep it via the same means (Cain, 2020). This line of thinking implies that opportunities for all Americans are accurate and that the American Dream is not dead. Those who believe in the American Dream’s illusion of unequal opportunity counter that economic mobility is more complex than it seems to be. Some individuals think some groups are intrinsically disadvantaged due to social and economic inequality (Iheduru-Anderson & Wahi, 2021).
This argument rests on the premise that the ongoing effects of discrimination and prejudice maintain structural inequalities in society. Specific demographics, including persons of color, women, and members of the LGBTQ+ community, may face additional obstacles to achievement. Some argue that the American Dream is unrealistic since not everyone has the same opportunities. They point out that race, class, and geography might influence whether or not a person can get a good education (Iheduru-Anderson, 2020). Due to financial limitations, schools in low-income communities cannot give their children the same education as those in more affluent places. As a result of this injustice, their future may be less bright.
Income Inequality and the Myth of Equal Opportunity
Equal opportunity has always been a part of the American character and has driven generations to come to the United States for a better life. Even while there is talk of equal opportunity, many individuals have never had a fair shot at achieving the American Dream. The numbers speak for themselves when it comes to proving the integrity of the American Dream’s promise of equal opportunity.
Roberts and Mayo (2019) found that income inequality in the United States has increased significantly over the previous few decades. According to recent data by Roberts & Mayo (2019, the wealthiest 1% of U.S. income in 2018 made 157 times more than the bottom 90%. These statistics point to a system whose primary goal is not to ensure everyone has a fair shot at success but to consolidate money and power.
Racial wealth gaps further emphasize the myth that everyone has an equal shot at achieving the American Dream. The median wealth of white households in the United States is ten times that of Black families and eight times that of Hispanic families, according to research by Taylor (2020). This gap is due to past discrimination and current employment, housing, and education bias.
Despite improvements in civil rights and the implementation of anti-discrimination laws, social mobility is lower in the United States than in many other industrialized nations, further undermining the illusion of equal opportunity in the American Dream. According to Davis (2020), the United States is the 27th most socially mobile country globally, falling behind nations such as Canada, Germany, and Denmark.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the American Dream instills in individuals the belief that they can achieve their goals in life so long as they put in the effort and make the correct decisions. However, this is not the case; although some individuals have succeeded despite substantial hurdles like color, gender identity, or socioeconomic status, most of those who have succeeded in America have done so because of their privilege and access to resources. Numerous studies have shown that an individual’s chances of success are increased if their parents are wealthy, independent of the individual’s effort levels. The fascinating part of this study is the evidence it provides regarding cause and effect. Economic success is more likely for individuals born into wealth, except for underprivileged youngsters who enter elite schools.
It is clear now that the American fantasy was never more than a fantasy. However, its original intent was to entice citizens of European countries to relocate to the United States. Furthermore, many white Americans exploited it to rationalize their horrible treatment of people of color. It has also been happening for a long time with no solution.
Despite appearances, many problems remain. This issue must be fixed so that no one is discriminated against because of their race or ethnicity. To realize the promise of equal opportunity, people must work to remove the structural barriers preventing many Americans from reaching their full potential. Then, they can say that the American Dream has come true for everyone.
References
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Davis, W. (2020). The unraveling of America. Rolling Stone, 6. Web.
Iheduru‐Anderson, K. (2020). Barriers to career advancement in the nursing profession: Perceptions of Black nurses in the United States. In Nursing Forum (Vol. 55, No. 4, pp. 664-677). Web.
Iheduru-Anderson, K. C., & Wahi, M. M. (2021). Rejecting the myth of equal opportunity: An agenda to eliminate racism in nursing education in the United States. BMC Nursing, 20, 1-10. Web.
Reay, D. (2020). The perils and penalties of meritocracy: Sanctioning inequalities and legitimating prejudice. The Political Quarterly, 91(2), 405-412. Web.
Roberts, L. M., & Mayo, A. J. (2019). Toward a racially just workplace. Harvard Business Review, 1-10. Web.
Taylor, K. Y. (2020). The black plague. The New Yorker, 16. Web.
Valderama‐Wallace, C. P., & Apesoa‐Varano, E. C. (2019). “Social justice is a dream”: Tensions and contradictions in nursing education. Public Health Nursing, 36(5), 735-743. Web.