Social mobility is an economic aspect that has existed in many societies for centuries. Every society is encompassed of social classes that define the allotment of wealth among individuals. There will be those who are extremely healthy and the poor. An economically balanced society would comprise individuals from all social classes. Social mobility will define how individuals move from one social economic class to the next. Social mobility is a great aspect in determining and fulfilling one’s American dream. Often, one would want to climb the social ladder through social mobility to the highest social class. Once at the top, Americans believe that they have achieved their American dream. Social mobility is a great determinant in achieving the American dream and despite the obstacles attached to it; many Americans will measure their proximity to the American dream through their social mobility.
Social Mobility
Many scholars have explored the place of social mobility in the American dream and some have recognized that through hard work and a positive attitude, one has the ability to climb the ladder of success (Surowiecki, 2014). During his tenure, president Obama recognized that upward social mobility in America had stalled by then. His view was that people were not economically advancing as was necessary and as previous times. Nonetheless, economists identified that social mobility in the US remained constantly on the rise (Surowiecki, 2014). These researchers recognized that individuals who were born in the early nineteen nineties had a similar ability of climbing the social ladder as did individuals born in the seventies. Even when this might be true, sociologists recognize that social mobility for the past forty years was relatively low if not absent in the American society. A significant percentage of those born into poverty will remain poor while only ten percent manage to make it out of poverty (Surowiecki, 2014). Nonetheless, the sentiments are indicative of the presence of social mobility in the American society. Even when people move upward at a slow rate, they are still moving and the progression is geared towards achieving the American dream. Those born in poor backgrounds may find it hard to achieve social mobility but to a great extent, they will make up a significant number of those who want to move to a higher economic class. To a great extent, social mobility determines the journey one sets on to achieve their American dream
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How Social Mobility can be reproduced
Even as research indicates the downward movement of social mobility, some sociologists suggest that with appropriate social factors, economies can bring a turnaround. Currently, many youths across the US seem to be stuck in social immobility where aspects in their lives and the environment make it hard for them to make any progress economically. This could be one of the reasons why many Americans born in poverty remain poor for the rest of their lives. Many are born in neighborhoods where under education is rampant, unemployment is highly prevalent and many youths end up in prisons. It shows that many are limited by social immobility and have little or no hope of achieving social mobility (McLeod, 2009). To a great extent, social mobility seems out of reach for many unlike in previous years where society witnessed many individuals on a steady upward economic move. However, with changing times and advancement in technology, more economic opportunities come up every day. These present Americans with the chance to achieve their desire for social mobility. Researchers suggest that the government has the ability to create economic opportunities that will help set people on track towards social mobility thus helping them move closer to achieving their American dream. It is an indication that social mobility will be reproduced through more economic opportunities for Americans across the board to help them have a foundation towards economic advancement (Surowiecki, 2014). With the desire for achieving the American dream at heart, many are likely to identify and take advantage of any and every economic opportunity that comes their way to help kick start their progression towards their American dream. Even with more economic opportunities, can the government and other stakeholders help Americans hold on to the desire for the American dream or keep their economic status once this dream is achieved?
The People’s belief in the American Dream
Research indicates that social mobility is on a slow rise if not stagnated. Many Americans especially those who are young seem to be socially immobile. Many face obstacles that prevent them from climbing up the economic ladder and achieving the American dream. As identified, seventy percent of those born poor will remain poor while only ten percent will manage to make it out of poverty (Surowiecki, 2014). These economic aspects are indicative of how hard it may be for one to achieve the American dream. The strong connection of the American dream to money makes it hard for people to work as a community towards advancing one another. One would rather gain as much wealth as he or she can while using other Americans to get rich. Society has become more individualistic than it previously was because people are choosing to pursue the American dream individually (Dalton, 2009). McLeod (2009) shows how Americans from poor neighborhoods such as Clarendon Heights struggle through their harsh environments and numerous barriers towards success and in many instances they may never manage to make it out of these neighborhoods. Even with hard work, some lament that one needs social connections to access that job that would mean social mobility and eventually achieving the American dream (PBS NewHour, 2011). Instances such as these, coupled with inequality and the rates of poverty that will highly likely rise in the future will present strong obstacles towards social mobility (Alston, 2018). Low rates or stagnated social mobility will mean that the American dream will gradually become an illusion for many Americans (Alston, 2018). Seeing as many face obstacles but are extremely hard working, they still hold the belief of achieving their American dream. Nonetheless, economic predictions indicate that Americans will soon find it hard to achieve the American dream.
Making sense of Social Mobility
Social mobility presents the primary pathway through which many Americans can achieve their American dream. It may not be the same for others who are born into rich families because their place at the upper social class is already determined. Nonetheless, a significant percentage of Americans need to work their through varied social classes to ensure that they amass enough wealth to have achieved the American dream (Pew Charitable Trust, 2011). Everyone’s desire to achieve this dream often demands a lot from the individual. Many will have to struggle through numerous hours of work and in some instances engage in illegal activities as an easier route to their American dream. Those who nurture their talents, engage in hard work or develop the appropriate attitude for success often believe that they need to go through social mobility to reach the American dream (McNamee & Miller, 2004). Therefore, even when many Americans strain physically and emotionally, their focus is on social mobility as the primary pathway through which they will reach their dream.
Obstacles to achieving the American Dream
As one looks to get to their dream through social mobility, he or she is likely to encounter obstacles that may make it somewhat difficult. One obstacle is the absence of an inheritance. For those from wealthy families, they often get a head start to success and the American dream through an inheritance passed along to them from their parents (McNamee & Miller, 2004). Others who may not have an inheritance may be lucky to reach this dream and in some instances they will lack the capacity. Another obstacle is social capital that is present in the networks that one knows. When one is well connected with the appropriate groups and individuals, it is highly likely that the person will have an upward social mobility and achieve their American dream easier than that individual without social capital (McNamee & Miller, 2004). Education will also present another obstacle where individuals with a good education especially those from wealthy families will have easy access to opportunities and the eventual achievement of their American dream (McNamee & Miller, 2004). Those without a good education need to struggle to reach the American dream and in some instances they may not be successful.
Positive and Negative elements of the American Dream
The American dream acts as a source of hard work and a positive attitude. Americans are hardworking because they are focusing on reaching the American dream. They know that only hard work can help them reach their goal. They also understand that as they work through social mobility, they need a positive attitude to overcome any obstacles they will face. On the other hand, the American dream will result in individualism among Americans. People will focus on advancing themselves at the expense of others. They have pushed aside the concept of working and developing as a society and are now working individually to ensure personal success. Such thought will develop greed in people pushing them to apply uncouth ways in their desires to achieve the American dream. Some of these strategies include the current human trafficking across the US, drug trafficking, the illegal sale of weapons and much more.
It is evident that social mobility is a crucial determinant of one’s ability to achieve the American dream. Social mobility defines how a person moves through the social economic classes to become wealthy and therefore conclude to have achieved the American dream. Even when economists believe that there is low social mobility or it has stagnated, the government, through economic policies, can help society to achieve the required levels of upward social mobility. It will be a strong determinant in one climbing the social ladder to their American dream but it is faced by numerous obstacles including the access to an inheritance, social capital and education. It is a strong part of how Americans believe they will achieve the American dream and they are ready to make varied sacrifices for upward social mobility.
References
Alston, P. (2018). American Dream is rapidly becoming American Illusion. OHCHR
Dalton, H. (2009). Horacio Alger, Rereading America. 8th ed. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin's. 272-78
McLeod, J. (2009). Ain't No Makin' It: Aspirations and Attainment in a Low-Income Neighborhood. Westview Press, Boulder CO
McNamee & Miller (2004). The Meritocracy Myth. Sociation Today. Vol. 2 (1)
PBS NewHour (2011). Land of the Free Home of the Poor. Retrieved from https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/land-of-the-free-home-of-the-poor (Links to an external site.)
Pew Charitable Trust (2011). Economic Mobility_ the American Dream. Retrieved from http___www.pewtrusts.org_en_multimedia_video_2011_economic-mobility-and-the-american-dream
Surowiecki, J. (2017). The Mobility Myth. New Yorker Magazine, June 19 https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2014/03/03/the-mobility-myth
