Full Citation
Title: Examining the Influence of Race, Class, and Gender Inequalities on Perceptions of the American Dream Since the 2008 Economic Recession
Citation Type: Dissertation/Thesis
Publication Year: 2014
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Abstract: Every civilization has faced inequality due to the division of labor in society (Merton, 1934). The United States was founded on the ideal that all men are created equal and as such should have equal opportunity to work toward their goals. The extremely complex issues of race, class, and gender inequality have continuously been at the forefront of social dynamics since the rise of the Civil Rights Movement in the early 1960s. Scholars studying inequality agree that labels and categories used to stratify society are socially constructed and not naturally occurring in the world (Hochschild, 1996). In the United States, the stratification that results from these constructed labels and groups create limitations on the opportunities available to individuals in society. While it may not be immediately apparent, such limitations affect the upward mobility of individuals affected by these social constructs. One such example of limitations on individual upward mobility addressed in this study is the perception of the ability to achieve the American Dream through hard work/work ethic. This thesis examines several issues regarding the concept of the American Dream in terms of individual perception based on socially constructed inequalities including race, gender, and social class. When looking at the American Dream, do individuals believe that it is relevant today? Is the American Dream accessible by all Americans or only those exempt from socially constructed inequalities? The American Dream has been a core component of American ideology as a motivational cornerstone of American life. Whether an American citizen, immigrant, or a visitor, the American Dream holds meaning to anyone wanting to better him/herself; they want to have the good life, a life better than their preceding generations, a life that shows progression in upward mobility. In light of the 2008 economic recession, the decline in both the housing market and the stock market, and lack of confidence in the financial sector of society, the definition of the American Dream has shifted for most Americans to reflect new realities in todays economy. Yet, realities facing individuals in the contemporary economic climate vary based on social stratification; thus, ones perception of the American Dream depends upon the opportunities available in light of socially constructed inequalities (Jiang & Cheng Lee, 2009). The overall goal of this thesis is to establish the influence of socially constructed race, class, and gender inequalities on individual perceptions of the possibilities for upward social mobility in light of the shrinking middle class caused by the 2008 economic recession. While I expect the general relationship of decrease, I expect the decrease to be more dramatic for Blacks than for Whites, for those in the lower class than those in the middle or upper class, and for women more so than men.
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Authors: Marklin, Scarlett D.
Institution: Western Kentucky University
Department: Sociology
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Degree: M.A.
Publisher Location: Bowling Green, Kentucky
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Data Collections: IPUMS USA
Topics: Gender, Other, Poverty and Welfare, Race and Ethnicity
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