The Myth Behind the American Dream

Myth of the American Dream
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The myth of the American Dream
The twentieth century was marred with several myths and assumptions, an example of which is the American dream, which was synonymous with an upward trend in economic growth and prosperity. The American political system and its popular culture were mainly driven by the American dream, where nationals believed in the narrative that they are a special population who are self-made from the colonial times. According to the dream, everyone, irrespective of their place of birth or the class in which they were born, has the potential to attain their own version of success through their sheer efforts. The dream is achievable through hard work, sacrifice, and taking of risks, rather than through pure chance. The term was drawn from a best-seller in 1931 titled “Epic of America” and was described by James Truslow Adams as "that dream of a land in which life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement" (404). The dream was facilitated by various factors that accorded the country a competitive advantage over other countries. The masses were made to believe that the ability to get a good education and to own homes was the path towards achieving this dream. The idea of this dream is embedded more deeply in the country’s roots, whose tenets are traceable to the Declaration of Independence that states, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.” For many Americans, the American Dream was meant to represent a stable economic growth, good jobs for their children, excellent education and retirement at the age of 65 years. However, all this turned out to be a myth. While some people believe that the dream was killed by the Great Recession, truth is that the American Dream was just a myth that is hampered by political, social and cultural beleifs.
Summary of the Sources
Class in America by Gregory Mantsios
In the article “Class in America,” the author, Gregory Mantsios, enlightens the masses about how the class that an individual belongs to affects their lives more than they think. He argues that one’s class has a direct effect on their life. Class is the major determinant of one’s future, whether the person likes it or not. The author uses several strategies to convince his audience that Americans need to open up and talk about how class affects their lives. If they continue shunning the topic, they will only be limiting their chances of success.
Reset: My Fight for Inclusion and Lasting Change by Ellen K. Pao
The source reflects the disdain of an individual when he or she feels that they did everything right only to be disappointed by some unwritten rules that are wrong. The author of the article traces the journey of disillusionment that resulted in the suing of her employer for gender discrimination. The article presents a clear picture of what women go through in a male-dominated field, despite their achievements. The author, ...