Syrine Ben Ayed - Week 6 - Chasing the American Dream
A white picket fence, behind which a vibrant lawn stretches, and a beautiful home stands.
Security, stability, comfort.
Dreams, aspirations, the pursuit of happiness.
For generations, the American Dream has stood as the pot of shimmering gold at the end of the rainbow, beckoning individuals from all over the world to join in the stride for a better future. It represented the notion that with hard work, anyone, regardless of their background, can achieve success.
However, for many, the stark reality of the ever growing economic disparities casts a long shadow over this dream. Back in 2014, Director of Health Policy Research at the Economic Policy Institute, Elise Gould, had stated that “the wages of the top 1% [had] grown by 154%, while the bottom 90% [had] seen growth of only 17%.” As the economic state of social classes continue to diverge, the concept of “upward mobility,” a fundamental part of the American dream, is only becoming harder to achieve for the middle class and the poor.
Further, the reality of unequal access to education only capitalizes on this growing struggle. It is universally acknowledged that education is the key to climbing the rings of the social hierarchy and achieving success, but with the current skyrocketing tuition fees of higher education, for many, the American Dream has become an increasingly elusive goal. Despite their hopes and aspirations, individuals from lower-income backgrounds struggle to obtain the quality education required, finding it out of reach, and, in turn, their chances of achieving upward mobility and economic success are only diminished. The dream of a stable home, financial security, and a brighter future becomes more distant with each passing year.
It is a saddening truth that, for a significant portion of the population, the American Dream remains an idealized aspiration rather than an attainable reality. In a world marked by change is constant, the American Dream is expected to evolve and adapt. However, the fundamental belief in the possibility of a better life through hard work and opportunity must endure. We must strive to safeguard and preserve this belief because if it is at stake, so too are the foundational principles of our nation.
Hi Syrine! Reading about your discussion of the groundlessness of the American Dream is really interesting. It was something I feel that my parents and many of their generation truly believed in, only to watch the United States decay in many ways. The promise of social and economic freedom really only masked a country that was still a work-in-progress. While I agree that this is a depressing truth, I feel that many in my generation have not given much thought into the American Dream. It is like our generation is well aware that America is full of issues, whether through history classes or news showcasing how various forms of discrimination have stained American society. In a way, our generation was born in the disappointment the previous generation faced regarding the American Dream, and we have embraced the competition and strived to work only for ourselves. You mentioned a thought-provoking idea when discussing that the American Dream is expected to evolve. There have already been issues of toxic competition and immorality in the monotony that American freedom has granted society. So, what exactly is a good course for the American Dream to change? Or, what practical actions can be taken by the government to safeguard these ideals of hard work and opportunity?
ReplyDeleteHi Syrine! This examination of the growing unattainability of the American Dream was eye-opening to me since I never really considered how poorer people that cannot afford college have severely decreased chances of attaining their dreams. Ideally, success and stability would be achievable for all people, but unfortunate circumstances can prevent this from being true. Although colleges offer scholarships to help those who need it and there are other systems in place to help people establish healthy lives/careers, many people slip through the cracks of society and are left without opportunity to flourish. As time passes, college education, home ownership, and other milestones in life grow more and more expensive, only increasing the chances that poor people will not be able to achieve their dreams. As you said, this adversity may lead to people losing hope in the American dream. You emphasized the importance of maintaining the American Dream, but I am curious what you fear will happen if this belief is lost. I fear that, without the American Dream, many Americans may no longer be motivated to work hard and compete to make new products or ideas, leading to the decline of the economy.
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