The American Dream

© 2005 Burdett Corporation. All rights reserved.

   My experience concerning the American Dream ideology comes from both socialization and exposure to the ideology in the university classroom.  The ideological teachings of society’s institutions help set rules and reinforce boundaries within the society.  Schools, family, church, government, and the media communicate the message that anything is possible as long as the individual works hard enough and long enough.  Individuals within the middle class live lives so embedded in the American Dream ideology that to consider the United States as a static, rather than a fluid social system, appears unthinkable.

   Early introductions to the American Dream Ideology originate with the family and educational systems.  Because of the class system within society, inequality begins even before a person is born.  An individual inherits the social and monetary capital of their family; therefore, inequality persists generation to generation.  There is absolutely no difference between a child born to a Kennedy, and a child born to a poor person in South Central, Los Angeles, other than its family’s social and monetary capital.  The American Dream ideology serves to justify the inequitable differences, stifle objections, and sustain hope for a better life.  In addition, children learn that one must work hard, achieve an education, and find a good job to participate in the American Dream.

   Society uses religion as another institutional tool to continue the ideology.  Church leaders further legitimize the hierarchical nature of society by using theological explanations of success and failure.  The steps required to find salvation look very similar to the steps required to succeed under the American Dream ideology.  One can only achieve godliness and salvation by sacrifice, hard work, devotion, and tithing to the church.  Additionally, some religions blame an individual’s lack of financial success on inadequate spirituality and devotion to the church.  The teachings are similar to the American Dream ideology because the individual is solely responsible for his or her own success or failure.

   To promote the perception of class mobility and economic opportunity, government institutions utilize the American Dream ideology.  For capitalism to work effectively, companies need a steady stream of individuals who will work hard for a minimal wage.  It benefits companies, and in turn benefits government, when individuals are socialized with the American Dream ideology.  Workers do not question their place in the society if they believe that class mobility will be achieved through hard work and sacrifice.

   Additionally, government programs enacted to combat inequality do nothing more than maintain the status quo.  Politicians put policies in place to cover up the problem without fully addressing the issue.  These policies appease some of the tensions of the middle class, and prevent revolution.  The revision within the welfare program, which requires a person to work a certain number of hours a week to qualify for welfare, is a perfect example of this kind of shortsighted policy.  During the Clinton administration, many citizens called for welfare reform because of their belief in individual responsibility and meritocracy.  This policy does not take into consideration the amount of children who now need quality daycare facilities, or the exorbitant daycare costs to the parents.  Furthermore, it does not consider the job market, and lack of quality, good paying jobs. For middle class citizens, the policy reinforces the belief that individuals should work for what they receive, and quells their anger over paying for “freeloaders”.  This attitude is ironic considering that many middle class Americans get a form of welfare when they send their own children to public universities, which are subsidized by the government.

   The media plays one of the leading roles in shaping our opinions and attitudes about life.  Society receives a constant dose of ideology, especially the American Dream ideology justifying inequality.  This constant bombardment enables individuals to point fingers and rationalize the inequalities.  There are numerous examples on television presenting one with the knowledge of individuals who work hard and “make it”.  Over the years, the continuous media display has transformed society with misinformed illusions.  The boundaries within our class system are getting stronger as the inequalities grow larger, but news stories continue to point out the individual successes and failures.  Stories such as this strive to reinforce meritocracy and individual responsibility, while blurring structural deficiencies.

The American Dream ideology is like a set of bars, imprisoning society in a constant static state, while promoting fluidity.  It guides our thoughts about our own success, and the success of others.  Forces constantly work to maintain the structure of the class system, and by its nature, it thrives on inequality.  Individuals who have power do not want to give the power up.  At the same time, individuals who do not have power want to believe that power is attainable.  In order to combat poverty and inequality, society must enact policies that recognize the multi-dimensional elements of inequality.  Structural problems and the end to socialization with the American Dream ideology, not the individual, must be the focus of this strategy.