Social Stratification, Social Mobility, and American Dream (Essay Sample)

Student’s Name Professor’s Name Course Number Date Social Stratification, Social Mobility, and American Dream The notion that everyone, regardless of their background or socioeconomic status, has the opportunity to improve their lives and realize their version of the "American Dream" is common. Success is more often attributed to one's willingness to make sacrifices, take risks, and work hard than luck. Aspirations like this are the building blocks from which success might emerge. Many people have found optimism in this notion throughout America's history. It's essential to the country and why so many people are willing to start over in the United States. Many have found that having something to work towards has helped them overcome trying times. Equal opportunity makes the American ideal a reality for everyone (P). As many millennials may think, the American dream is still alive. Ideally, every person in the United States would have the same shot at success and prosperity if they put in the effort and showed some initiative. While one's chances of success are largely determined by their genetic makeup, environment, and other external factors, these factors can be influenced through conscious effort. To improve one's quality of life, one must seize chances, acquire necessary qualifications, learn from mistakes, establish realistic goals, and persevere until success is achieved (P). The goal of the American Dream, to make everyone prosperous, is admirable, but it requires more research and dedication. This hope goes back to the very beginning of this country. Immigrants came to the country from all over the world in the past to get away from religious persecution, social stratification, and other forms of oppression. The "American dream" was a common phrase used by reformers in the early 20th century. Instead of glorifying wealth accumulation, they worked to rein in monopoly capitalism and shield citizens from exploitative business owners. Although James Truslow Adams popularized the term "American dream" in his book The Epic of America, published that same year, the concept predates the Great Depression. White landowners were the only ones who received an invitation to the American dream from the Declaration of Independence. Later, legislation was enacted to protect the rights of enslaved people, people without property, and women (P). The realization of the American Dream profoundly impacts the country's trajectory. From then on, the American ideal evolved to make each new generation even more successful than the last. Many citizens of the United States no longer have faith in or hope for the American dream. A lack of faith leads some to conclude that obstacles to achieving the "American dream" include racial prejudice and economic inequality. Others, however, think that any goal is within reach with enough hard work and perseverance. While it may seem like a fairytale to those who haven't experienced it, many people have gone from obscurity to achieve extraordinary success. Political and economic liberty, the rule of law, and protecting private property are essential for realizing the American ideal (Mazelis). Without them, people lack the assurance that their accomplishments will be protected against arbitrary reversal, preventing them from making the decisions that will lead to success. The American Dream is a defining cultural concept that has helped shape fundamental American beliefs. It guarantees liberty and fair treatment for all, allowing people to pursue their happiness by choosing how they spend their time and how much money they earn. It also allows them to build wealth and live with pride, regardless of whether or not the majority shares their beliefs. However, Black Americans have not always been able to achieve the American Dream due to structural and historical factors that produce and sustain concentrated Black poverty. Black people who have succeeded academically and socially are a living representation of the American ideal. They believe it to be a generic concept and are skeptical of its current availability or applicability to African-Americans. Even though the research suggests that President Obama represents justice and influence for the Black community, Black Americans perceive him as a sign of Black rises rather than Black supremacy and a symbol of integration rather than reformation (Ross). However, the people's hope was never realized, and the dream remained just that. Stratification is a social system that ranks people into functional social classes. The United States uses a class system to divide its population. A person's wealth establishes where they fall on a socioeconomic scale from upper to moderate to lower. An American's standard of living is strongly related to their socioeconomic status. One's potential to succeed economically and socially is directly proportional to their level of education and training, or more precisely, to their access to them. Those from lower socioeconomic backgrounds face a significantly steeper climb to achieve the American goal of upward mobility. The American class system is a prime example of the persistence of inequality in the country. In contrast, social mobility refers to upward or downward stagnation opportunities. The American Dream states that people of any skin color, religion, socioeconomic status, or social class may succeed if they try hard enough and put in the necessary effort (Reeves). However, there is no solution to the problem of gender and social discrimination. Income inequality is the root cause of many daily social and economic differences. Those who are financially secure can enjoy many benefits that those with less money cannot. A few of the benefits are a higher quality of life, access to better medical care and education, and more influence and reputation. But the real issue is whether or not that's possible for everyone. Is it true that everyone should have the same chances in life? The disparity in wealth between different groups in the United States means that many people from lower socioeconomic backgrounds cannot use available resources, including high-quality educational opportunities. The prevailing belief in today's global society is that everyone has a fair shot at success if they put in the effort. Despite this, a widespread consensus holds that the United States is divided into three distinct socioeconomic strata: the affluent, the middle class, and the low-income. Wealth tends to remain concentrated at the top because social stratification tends to be transmitted from one generation to the next (Reeves). That means the rich will continue to live in the lap of luxury while the poor remain locked out of opportunities for upward mobility and increased prosperity. It motivates people to strive for excellence in pursuing societal goods and services and improving their quality of life. Both functionalist and conflict theories aid the attempts to explain social stratification. However, understanding that creating a functional society is challenging is crucial to this investigation. America does its best to maintain social functioning as efficiently as possible, but not everyone will be content with how things are run. The United States is constantly searching for ways to better itself. New legislation is proposed daily, and new social movements try to acquire traction. In America, change is inevitable, and that's a good thing. There may be flaws in how America's social classes are organized, but sociologists are working to expose them. In this approach, America can see what adjustments must be made. Inequitable societal patterns are built to last for generations. Birth is the primary determinant of social status. Those born into privileged homes can go as far down the social ladder as those born into less privileged families. The social class structure is the foundation upon which individuals can rise or fall. People in society can and do rise the social ladder through their efforts. Many appear content with their current level of development, believing that future generations will have even greater success. However, there is no uniform distribution of wealth and opportunities around the globe. However, new research suggests that the United States lags behind other developed nations regarding economic development (Parshina et al.). A recent study indicated that the likelihood of a child being financially independent of their parents has significantly declined. This trend shows that it is getting increasingly difficult for people to advance in society. Furthermore, biased by race, black families are overrepresented at the bottom of the economic distribution. While most Americans may attribute upward mobility to their own personal efforts and hard work, the reality is that most mobility results from structural factors like shifts in the labor force, the economy, and technological advancements. The most important facet of structural change is the opportunity structure, which includes shifts in the quantity and nature of occupations relative to the number and qualities of available workers. However, opportunities must be available for this to be a basis for social advancement. Underrepresented groups, such as black men, must comprehend their experiences to overcome the challenges and hurdles to social mobility. Black men's experiences of social mobility across their academic and professional lives and participation in the community can be studied via a cognitive lens (Ross). Examining one's problem-solving skills, methods, decision-making, behaviors, and varying social encounters is essential for overcomin...