Search results
We develop a new macrolevel measure of belief in the American. Dream from 1973 to 2018. We show that it moves over time, responsive to changes in social mobility, income inequality, and economic perceptions. As inequality increases, belief in the attainability of the American Dream declines.
Apr 21, 2020 · We develop a new macrolevel measure of belief in the American Dream from 1973 to 2018. We show that it moves over time, responsive to changes in social mobility, income inequality, and economic perceptions.
- Jennifer Wolak, David A. M. Peterson
- 2020
May 22, 2024 · Images in a new book explore the concept of the American Dream – and how it came to represent both a utopia and a dystopia.
- Deborah Nicholls-Lee
- Materials
- Hard Work
- Freedom
- Social Mobility
- Material Gain
- Family Connection
- Individuality
- Generational Comparison
- Discussion
The schedule for the interviews was semi-structured and open-ended. In these interviews, I asked open-ended questions about each participant’s perceptions of, and identification with, the American Dream (Appendix). I also included questions about the participant’s familial history and whether or not they feel components like immigrant status, age, ...
Hard work was one of the most cited qualities associated with the American Dream. Because of its importance in relation to work, especially among those in the working class, the American Dream is invariably linked to an individual’s ability to work hard to reach their goals. One older participant stated that the entire basis of the American Dream w...
As the United States is considered “the land of the free,” it’s no surprise that freedom is also linked to the American Dream. Many participants spoke about the freedom to do as they please, whether that be from a place of success or simply one of our inalienable Constitutional rights. An older participant, an immigrant from Germany, began her inte...
Social mobility is another key component of the American Dream that involves ending in a better social or economic position than where you began. This notion was expressed in many interviews, especially when discussing familial history. The idea of doing “better” than the generations before you and hoping future generations share the same improvem...
When asked what they envisioned when hearing the term “American Dream” many participants painted a picture of the nuclear family living in suburbia. These ideal lifestyles have included material items such as, “a white picket fence, golden retriever, and two-car garage” or can be as simple as owning your own home. While some examples of material ga...
Many interviews touched on wanting to be able to provide for a future family. Marriage was not discussed often, but children were. Some participants brought up how important familial bonds were to the previous generations in their families. One participant, whose great- grandparents immigrated from Norway, included family in her definition of the A...
In a lot of ways, this theme of individuality is opposite of wanting a familial connection, but is also about achievement on one’s own, without financial support from another party. In a quote from an older participant, it is evident that media, such as movies and books, play a large role in the way we define the American Dream. I think of all th...
While these interviews were primarily focused on the recurring themes that play into individuals’ definitions of the American Dream, other important aspects of the interviews were assessed in order to better understand the divide between the generations. When asked if they embraced or rejected the American Dream, a majority of participants in the s...
Within the current study, it was made clear that no two people have the same definition of the American Dream. Although similar themes were expressed throughout, particular themes were of more importance to different participants. Hard work and material gain were definitely the two most cited themes throughout the research, often remaining linked a...
- Clara R Riggio
- 2021
Nov 1, 2021 · The American Dream has functioned as an idealized view of success in the United States since its conception in the 1930s. As generations pass, questions of plausibility and definition...
In this chapter, I explore the meaning and experience of the American Dream as it was perceived and lived out during the twentieth century for those Tom Brokaw has called the “Greatest Generation” and as it is currently perceived and experienced by those I call the “Millennial Generation.”.
People also ask
Does belief in the American Dream change over time?
What is the Ameri-Can Dream?
When was the American Dream created?
Is American Dream attainable in the 21st century?
Does belief in the American Dream revert to an equilibrium level?
Who wrote the American Dream in the 21st century?
Feb 6, 2003 · In this fascinating short history, Jim Cullen explores the meaning of the American Dream, or rather the several American Dreams that have both reflected and shaped American identity from the Pilgrims to the present.
