The American Dream Research Paper Sample

The American Dream is the lifestyle that everyone desires; it is having a family, house, successful job, and the ability to climb the social ladder. This lifestyle, however, is not achievable for everyone. Within social institutes and structures are social inequalities that determine one’s advantages and disadvantages in their chase for the American Dream. Social inequalities are shown rendering lifestyles in residential segregation and affected education systems. Such inequalities constitute social institutes and structures like marriage and gender norms. Finally, the intergenerational and cumulative advantages and disadvantages like wealth and social class affect the meritocracy of the dream. 

Although most people strive for the American Dream, social inequalities often stand in the way. An example of a social inequality is residential segregation. This is when someone’s race determines where they will be allowed to live. Some neighborhoods were for only white people, and some were occupied by people of different races; the two never intermixed. Lower income neighborhoods occupied by people of color were often located in a more dangerous environment. They were more likely to be near garbage dumps and power plants that pollute the water and air; this not only creates a dismal place to live in, but it also causes lifelong health issues. On the other hand, higher income neighborhoods occupied by white people did not experience this same struggle. Their environment was much cleaner. Further, residential segregation also began to have harmful effects on the equality of the education system. Schools are funded by taxes, so high-income neighborhoods fund schools far superior to those of low-income neighborhoods. More often than not, these low-income schools are mostly filled with minorities. Lisa Wade writes, “Only 18 percent of White students attend high-poverty schools, compared to 30 percent of Asian children and more than 60 percent of Black and Hispanic children” (page 214). The more tax money a school receives, the higher quality of teachers, resources, school supplies, and opportunities they have access to. Social inequalities make it nearly impossible for some people to achieve their goals in life. 

Social inequalities are embedded within social institutions and social structure. Social institutions are defined as “widespread and enduring patterns of interaction with which we respond to categories of human need” (page 156). Social structure is a combination of many interacting social institutions. A strong example of a social institution is the breadwinner/homemaker marriage model which includes one spouse that works and one that stays home with the children. This model fills a very common need in society to make a living while also taking care of a family. While it may sound like either spouse could hold either position, that is indeed not the case. Men are provided with job opportunities while the women are expected to stay home with the kids. According to Wade, this marriage model “… didn’t just place men and women into separate spheres. It also casts them as unequal” (page 233). Women could not get a job even if they wanted to; employers only hired men. Additionally, gender itself can be considered a social institution. There are patterns of interactions that generally follow each gender. Men are expected to act masculine while women are expected to act feminine. Femininity, specifically, is contemned in the eyes of society while masculinity is praised. This is why it is much more acceptable for a female to be somewhat masculine than it is for a male to be feminine.  Those who stray outside of these norms are often looked down upon and do not receive equal opportunities as others. These inequalities are part of social institutions and structures even though they are often disagreed with.

Intergenerational and cumulative advantages and disadvantages also leave a lasting impact on one’s ability to attain the American Dream. Intergenerational advantages and disadvantages are those that are passed down from parents to their kids. The most common example an intergenerational advantage is wealth. High-income homeowners make a profit on their home over time which is usually passed down to their children. These kids are financially more likely to purchase their own home in their future. Wealth in general is something that is passed down through a family and because of this, social classes are generally similar throughout generations as well. Cumulative advantages and disadvantages are those that build up over time. Children that grow up in low-income families often experience cumulative disadvantages from having so many expenses at a young age. When the parents are not able to offer any financial assistance, the child spends so much money on necessities that they are unable to successfully save money. Those at the high-income end of the spectrum usually have the opposite situations and therefore cumulative advantages. By having some of their first big expenses covered by their parents, they are able to start saving money at a young age to better prepare for their future. Both categories of advantages and disadvantages suppress the meritocracy of the American Dream. Meritocracy is the idea that one’s societal advancement is the direct result of their capabilities and successes. This, however, is not really how it works when different people are given different opportunities in life. Intergenerational and cumulative advantages set some people forward in their chase of the American Dream while the disadvantages cause others to be set back. 

Ultimately, everyone strives to achieve the American Dream but not all are successful. In her textbook, Terrible Magnificent Sociology, Lisa Wade highlights how social inequalities and institutes make up the advantages and disadvantages that people face in their journey. Social inequalities such as residential segregation and the education system show how race affected one’s life. Social institutions and structures like marriage models and gender norms are comprised of social inequalities. Finally, the meritocracy of the American Dream is altered by the intergenerational and cumulative advantages and disadvantages that the people face. Recognizing the substantial these inequalities have on people explains why not everyone is able to achieve the American Dream.