Societal stratification, exploitation, inequality, division, injustices–what do you think about when you hear these words?
They may connote feelings of negativity, anger, or even despair. However, some may be surprised to hear these words accurately depict the results of idealizing the “American Dream.” This ingrained cultural belief, beloved ideal, and symbol of opportunity has fueled the fire that has lit the United States up and transformed it into an atmosphere of fear, prejudice, and conformity.
While many Americans may have upheld the values referenced in our history classes–and valued in the financial and Hollywood worlds–we have accustomed ourselves to a false sense of reality, one that has contributed to the disparity and unhappiness plaguing many American citizens today. From domestic boredom to a rise in consumerism, the “American Dream” has created an environment with an abundance of inequality and polarization. Although the idea has been considered a symbol of stability and hope, it has evolved to become a value that justifies hindering social progress through conformity.
The glistening, gleaming, and astonishing surface appearance of the American identity has amplified Americans’ desire to consistently strive to achieve material success, thereby intertwining the American Dream with the promotion of consumerism and conspicuous consumption. From “Keeping up with the Joneses” to “Keeping up with the Kardashians,” Americans have found themselves striving to be something or someone they perceive as the ideal person: a person with a prosperous life.
The formation and continuation of the American Dream have led to an idealization of hierarchical values, with those who can afford to keep up with consumer activities ahead–and those who struggle financially at the bottom. Historically, humans who follow the cycle of a consumer-based culture end up attaching themselves to the idea that society as a whole is based on wealth, power, and access to opportunities. When the American Dream began to come to light as a defining and imperative value for all those who called the Star-Spangled States their home, a gap grew between those considered successful and prideful and those who were not.
After World War II, hundreds of thousands of soldiers began to find jobs building the very Levittowns that would inspire the nuclear family and the media’s focus on consumer goods. While people focused on the success of suburban areas–and their mainly white residents–people lost sight of other individuals: those not considered ideal models of the American Dream. With this, urban decay grew at a rapid rate, and those marginalized communities that adapted to urban life became at a loss for equal opportunities. While the American Dream prioritized prosperity and material success, it failed to address the growing wealth gap, leaving those who are still American but part of the lower class behind. This peacetime scenario is just one instance of the impact of the idealization of the American Dream, an instance in which everyone felt pressured to conform their lives to fit the scope of the American Identity.
During the post-World War I period, F. Scott Fitzgerald masterfully captured societal tensions in his novel, The Great Gatsby. Gatsby, a man who reinvented himself, relentlessly pursued wealth and status to win back a lost love. His pursuit reflects the American obsession with climbing the socio-economic ladder, yet it also reveals the emptiness and moral compromises that come with chasing an illusion, similar to that of the American Dream. Gatsby’s tragedy did not just showcase a love story, but the corruption of a dream. As Fitzgerald wrote, “Gatsby believed in the green light, the orgastic future that year by year recedes before us,” which encapsulated the elusiveness of the American Dream and its ability to lure people into a cycle in which we chase unattainable goals, often at the expense of our true selves.
We often hear about the American Dream–the idea that through hard work, anyone can achieve success in this land of opportunity. But what happens when this dream becomes an idealized version of the American identity, pushing us toward conformity and widening the disparities it promises to erase? The idealization of the American identity–the white-picket fence homes, perfect families, and material wealth–creates immense pressure to conform. Those who don’t fit this mold, whether due to race or class, are excluded and marginalized. This pressure to conform not only diminishes individuality but also perpetuates systemic inequalities.
The American Dream, when carefully considered and defined, becomes a barrier rather than a bridge, reinforcing the very disparities we have fought for generations to overcome. As Americans, we must broaden our understanding and interpretations of success to create a society where people from diverse life paths can thrive.