The concept of the American dream is that education, hard work, and a family are the key to success. That may have been the case in the past, but in today’s world, the American dream is primarily attainable for the wealthy and influential. The majority of average Americans today have grown comfortable living paycheck to paycheck. The idea that the American dream is attainable for everyone regardless of their background is unrealistic.
Income greatly affects achieving the American dream. A study from the Center for Scholars & Storytellers (CSS) at UCLA found that people who come from a lower socioeconomic background are unlikely to believe in the American dream. Alisha Hines, CSS Research Director stated, “And right now, the reality is approximately one in three adolescents live in families at less than twice the federal poverty line, and over half of Gen Zers say they are extremely worried about not having enough money and feel anxious or on-edge nearly every day.” This presents a concerning issue within the economic state of our country today. The rising cost of education, housing, and even healthcare has made the American dream almost impossible for the average American to achieve.
Some still believe in the sentiment that the American dream is alive today, that hard work and dedication will lead to a prosperous life. Unfortunately, that doesn’t apply to everyone, especially those from low socioeconomic backgrounds. The rising cost of tuition prevents people from seeking higher education or can leave them drowning in student loan debt. The expectation that people can work their way up to achieving the American dream is not ideal as a great portion of Americans can not afford the education to get a well paying job to work up from.
The disadvantages in healthcare and education combined with the rising cost of living has made the American dream almost impossible for the average citizen to achieve. Though some have found success in climbing the socioeconomic ladder, the vast majority are struggling to make it to the first step. According to the article, “Is the American Dream Still Possible” by David Wallechinsky, 47% of the 2000+ people they surveyed claim they can never get ahead no matter how much they work. A job is no longer enough to support the average family, it now takes debt, loans and sacrifices.
In conclusion, the American dream has become extremely difficult for the average person to achieve. Limited access to education, employment, and healthcare continue to hold people back. While having a job is a necessity, it’s no longer enough to guarantee security for most families. To make the American dream truly attainable for everyone we must urge policy makers to support acts that foster equality and protect the people.
