The American Dream, a belief or reality that many people contemplate, is part of the history of America that shows the great importance of opportunity and chances equal to all human beings. Are the values and goals that ancestors have been preaching and teachers have been lecturing still feasible in American society today? This question is particularly relevant when considering whether the American Dream should continue to be taught in contemporary educational settings.
To begin with, we need to look at the opportunities and chances that are preached, which are not solely based on financial success and material goods as displayed in Dickler’s (2016) and Graham’s (2017) articles. In fact, it is more likely seen as a result or consequence of the American Dream. Furthermore, what we make of the American Dream, its values, and goals are individually different. For instance, some think it is about social mobility, money, or material success; others think it is about an ideal to encourage people to give their best and make the best out of their lives. Zogby International (2009) carried out a poll, comparing the view of American society on the American Dream after the recession in 2008. The percentage of people believing in the American Dream decreased from 67% to 56%. Considering the economic state back then, it is still remarkable to see that many people hold onto the idea of the American Dream (Zogby, 2009). The poll illustrates the reasons many people think one way or the other.
Capitalism is one of the most dominating reasons why people believe it is impossible to live out the American Dream. It is true that the rich get richer, the poor stay poor, and the middle class is decreasing (“44% blame the powerful ones not caring about them,” Zogby, 2009). However, as mentioned before, the idea is not solely based on financial and material goods. Blaming others for your own insecurity and individual responsibility is senseless and pessimistic. Kasser and Ryan (1996) affiliate this to the difference of people either having intrinsic goals, such as affiliation, community feeling, physical fitness, and self-acceptance, or extrinsic goals, such as financial success, social recognition, and appealing appearance. Concluding that people with intrinsic goals are most likely to accept the American Dream and people with extrinsic goals rather reject the American Dream. Besides, blaming the powerful, blaming capitalism as a market economy is irrational, as there are many success stories of how people work hard to reach the top, such as Jerry Yang, founder of Yahoo, with a net worth of $1.15 billion (Goldschein, 2012), or Do Won and Jin Sook Chang, founders of Forever 21, worth $3 billion (Burke, 2016). In fact, it is about equality of opportunities and not equality of poor and rich.
The equality of opportunities, the main body of the concept of the American Dream, is however seen by many as a privilege to whites only. Ethnic minorities, such as African Americans or Hispanic origins, suggest this opinion and imply racism in social affairs. Looking at the population distribution of the USA, 62% white, 18% Hispanic, and 13% African American in 2015, with a large indication of a decrease of the white population to 44% and an increase of Hispanic and African American populations by 2060 (Statista, 2015), suggests that the equality of opportunities is not based on population distribution. As a majority of babies born in the USA are of non-European descent, America will be a society of color (Liu, 2015). Hence, the reason could lie in the perception of opportunity and vision of success. For instance, giving equal opportunities does not mean that everybody will succeed. There are many examples of non-white Americans succeeding, such as Barack Obama becoming President of the United States.
Social background is not an indication to decide where you end up; people can still achieve their aims if they work hard. Self-reliance and individualism are important aspects of the American Dream, so the role of the community or state should be minor. Even if the role of the state should be minor and many objectors of the American Dream suggest that if you are not able to work hard (handicapped), nobody will support you, there is evidence that the government is changing and spends money on social welfare as much as social market economies of European countries (Worstall, 2015).
The American Dream’s relevancy today also ties into educational theories and pedagogical approaches. Critical pedagogy, a philosophy of education championed by Paulo Freire, emphasizes the need for education to empower students and encourage critical thinking about societal structures. If we teach the American Dream, it should not be a glorified, one-dimensional narrative but rather a complex, multifaceted concept that students can critically analyze. They should be encouraged to question and debate its feasibility and relevance in today’s socio-economic landscape.
Moreover, sociological theories such as the conflict theory, posited by Karl Marx, can be integrated into this discussion. Conflict theory suggests that society is in a state of perpetual conflict due to competition for limited resources. Those in power (the rich) control the resources and maintain their dominance through various means, including ideology. In this context, the American Dream can be seen as an ideological tool used to perpetuate the status quo, providing false hope and diverting attention from systemic inequalities. Understanding this perspective can help students critically evaluate whether the American Dream is a genuine opportunity or a myth that sustains economic disparities.
On the other hand, Robert K. Merton’s strain theory in sociology highlights how societal pressure on individuals to achieve culturally accepted goals (like the American Dream) can lead to deviant behavior when legitimate avenues are blocked. This theory can be used to discuss the consequences of an unachievable American Dream and how it might drive individuals toward unethical or illegal means to succeed.
Another academic perspective comes from the field of psychology. The self-determination theory (SDT), developed by Edward Deci and Richard Ryan, emphasizes the role of intrinsic and extrinsic motivations in human behavior. According to SDT, when people pursue goals that are intrinsically motivated (like personal growth, relationships, and community contributions), they experience higher levels of psychological well-being. Teaching the American Dream through this lens would focus on encouraging students to set intrinsic goals rather than purely extrinsic ones like wealth and status.
Additionally, the concept of the American Dream can be analyzed through the lens of economic theories. The neoliberal economic model, which emphasizes free-market capitalism, deregulation, and reduction in government spending, has had significant implications for the American Dream. Critics argue that neoliberal policies have exacerbated income inequality and made it harder for the average American to achieve upward mobility. Teaching about the American Dream today could involve a critical examination of neoliberalism and its impact on economic opportunities.
Given these academic frameworks, it’s clear that the American Dream should be taught with a critical approach that encourages students to understand its complexities and the socio-economic forces at play. This approach aligns with John Dewey’s educational philosophy, which advocates for experiential learning and critical thinking, preparing students to engage thoughtfully with societal issues.
In conclusion, the American Dream is a multifaceted concept that remains relevant in discussions about opportunity, equality, and societal values. Whether it should be taught today depends on how it is presented. Rather than perpetuating a simplistic narrative of success through hard work alone, educators should use it as a springboard for critical discussions about social justice, economic inequality, and the diverse experiences of Americans. By incorporating academic theories from sociology, psychology, and economics, the teaching of the American Dream can be a powerful tool to help students navigate and understand the complexities of contemporary society.