If Donna Reed could see us now…
When I heard the topic of the American Dream, the first thing that popped into my head was the old black and white sitcom reruns. “Donna Reed”, “I Love Lucy”, etc. The nuclear family where everyone has a house, a car, a TV, and 2.5 children. (Do you think PR ever thought twice about saying .5 of a child? While part of an average, the number looks like you have a portion of a child, like one with no legs. It’s a bit creepy.)
Born in the 80’s, I only remember hearing about the American dream in Social Studies or movies. It was never directly talked about. I know the American Dream was originally intended to be the concept that a person’s material wealth was dependant on their abilities or work ethic, and not a class structure. It was also used by immigrants coming to America for the chance to have greater prosperity than they could have from their country of origin. The classic 50’s and early 60’s dream was to be the average American family like the sitcoms. I think the 70’s added freedom of choice, race, and religion to the mix. Go Hippies! In the 80’s fame crept in. You could now achieve success, fame, and wealth through hard work. Bill Gates would be an example of this. Somewhere in the 90’s there seemed to be a loss of the dream. You began seeing TV shows where working hard did not get you a better life and things did not turn out well like “Rosanne”. Poverty came to the forefront and people started to really become aware that the majority of the American people were not happy and did not have their dream, even if they were working hard.
Now the American Dream seems to have taken another shift. Hard work seems to have disappeared from the mix. When I hear about the American Dream today, it normally references someone who got rich quick or became famous for no apparent reason. The lottery, reality TV and game shows, partying with Paris Hilton are the references I hear. It seems like people believe they are entitled to have a cell phone, great house, nice car, lots of money and fame if they want it. There is no mention of work or abilities.
I like to think my personal definition follows more of the traditionalist standpoint. I believe that if I work hard, I can achieve success. There are so many opportunities out there, if people would just take advantage of them. I know I am able to hold this view because my life has been rather blessed. I am happily married, have a career teaching, a nice house, and an adorable puppy. Maybe he can count for my “.5”. :) While my life is not a black and white sitcom, I do feel I am living my American Dream.
I think the American Dream should also include the opportunity for education, a fair price for quality healthcare, to treat others with respect and be treated well in return, to not judge based on color, religion, gender or orientation, and to have life, liberty, the pursuit of happiness, and all the stuff that comes with democracy. I know many of these things are idealistic. While I wouldn’t want to go back to women in party dresses cooking and cleaning all day for their husband, I do think there really were some advantages to the Classic TV American Dream.
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2 comments:
Bethany,
I don’t think the American Dream got lost in the 90s but I would agree that the “how to achieve it” was difficult to understand. For years, people heard that with good work ethic and hard work they would eventually be able to afford a home, send their kids to college and consider themselves successful. They could live that middle class life achieving the American Dream. But when the economy changed, it became more difficult to afford the home, college and success was harder to grasp. It was going to take more work and more effort than some people were willing to do. I think media also played a role as they portrayed success differently. For many media changed the images of American Dream. You were successful only if you could afford a large house, expensive clothes and cars. The dream changed but it didn’t disappear. Dan and Rosanne had a dream it was just they wanted something that was beyond what they were willing to work for.
Carla
Bethany-
I understand what you are saying about the American Dream being lost. I think, however, that it is being forgotten more than lost. With each generation, we are getting farther away from our history. Most of us are not second, or even third generation Americans. We have a long line of American ancestors. We tend to take things for granted, because we have been raised in "the land of plenty."
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