Anagha: Pro-American Dream

When you hear the words “American dream,” I bet you imagine a big house surrounded by a white picket fence, a garage full of luxury cars, and a pool in the backyard where the kids and golden retriever play. Most Americans still view their own success as a 1950s-esque fantasy, leading many to believe the American Dream is dead when they examine their own skyrocketing student debt and unaffordable grocery bills. But the American dream isn’t really dead; it’s simply misunderstood. The perception of the American dream as solely reliant on material wealth has tainted its perception: the dream should mean the freedom to define personal success, which is still alive but underutilized.

Historical perceptions of the American dream as the ability to achieve wealth are fundamentally flawed, exclusive, and outdated. The Homestead Act of 1862 is a primary example of what many people misrepresent as the American dream: individuals were given 160 acres of land to move west, drawing immigrants and individuals hoping to make a better life for themselves. This act effectively tied success to property ownership; however, it excluded Native Americans, enslaved people, and women. This legislation and its impact show how when tying the American dream to material wealth, as many still do, it often becomes exclusive and discriminatory. By contrast, Martin Luther King Jr. defined the American dream as a “creed” that all men are created equal, and that all men have equal opportunities to achieve their own success. This definition is more adaptable to the needs and abilities of different people, as it gives the American dream a moral definition, not an economic or financial one.

Many believe the American dream is not feasible due to increased financial burden; however, the very cause of this pressure is due to the treatment of the American dream as a one-size-fits-all path rather than a framework for individual success. Creators on platforms like YouTube and TikTok can make their hobbies or passions into careers. While these careers may not follow traditional notions of success, like a stable 9-5 job and income, they allow individuals to pursue work that is personalized, meaningful, and potentially influential. Yet, many people overlook these opportunities, often going with conventional careers that promise financial security over personal fulfillment. One such popular career that was first pushed starting in the 1990s was computer science: computer science was presented to young people as a ticket to financial freedom and wealth, leading to many people blindly choosing it as their career without thinking about their own passion for the subject. But now, computer science is a highly saturated field with a 6-7% unemployment rate according to The Economic Times, since too many people choose it solely for financial purposes rather than genuine fulfillment. This phenomenon exemplifies the negative effects of misrepresenting the American dream: it causes the financial distress that is then blamed on the American dream, which was misrepresented in the first place.

The American Dream is not just one dream: it represents the ability for everyone to create their own vision for their future. In order to make this dream less of a fantasy, Americans must go beyond the conventional bounds of success to keep up with an ever-progressing world, in which conventional methods may not work anymore.

Archisha: Anti-American Dream

We are constantly told that hard work pays off. But for most Americans, it barely pays the bills. In the 1950s, a single income could buy a home, raise a family, and secure a promising future. In 2025, many people are struggling to make ends meet, living paycheck to paycheck. Generations ago, the American Dream promised that anyone, no matter where they came from, could rise through grit and determination. Today, that promise is no longer applicable to our society. For the average person, wages have stagnated, living costs are higher than ever, and wealth is secured only for a select few. Fast forward 75 years, and the “dream” is less about success and more about survival. The American Dream, as we know it, is dead because hard work does not guarantee stability, opportunity depends on privilege, and success is now measured by appearance instead of achievement.

Let’s begin with the number one factor in this case: economic inequality. Many argue that the dream is still attainable through long hours and perseverance, but the workforce simply does not reward effort. According to the Archbridge Institute, writer Gonzalo Schwarz claims that “6 in 10 respondents cited poor economic conditions” as the primary barrier to achieving success, specifically pointing to increased housing prices and rising costs of living. Even with full-time jobs, Americans are struggling to keep up with basic expenses, showing that average wages alone no longer guarantee financial stability. This combination of low wages and high inflation makes it nearly impossible for many to save, invest, or move up the economic ladder. But the problem goes beyond individual finances. Schwarz also states that roughly 25% of Americans feel they have fewer job opportunities than their own parents did, and nearly 30% of adults under 45 believe they are not keeping up with previous generations. This evidence reveals a growing wealth gap between generations, where Gen Z faces systemic barriers that prevent upward mobility, as opposed to Gen X or even Millennials. In other words, due diligence is no longer realistic for a significant portion of the population.

For the general public, another disadvantage comes from the lack of generational wealth and inherited advantages due to racial and economic barriers persisting across generations. According to “Time,” many Gen Zs face a limited future: they must either rely on luck or the wealth of previous generations, since their own financial situation often depends entirely on the income they can earn. This is solely because soaring student debt, stagnant salaries, and expensive housing and living costs make building long-term stability feel out of reach. At the same time, racial inequality severely limits the ability of minority families to build wealth. Based on NCRC’s research, in 2022, the typical White household held about $284,000 in wealth, while a Black household had just $44,000, and a Hispanic household had $62,000. This stark imbalance demonstrates that wealth, and the opportunities it enables, remains concentrated among White families, leaving people of color with far fewer chances to achieve financial success. Combining these economic and social barriers provides proof that the American Dream has increasingly become unachievable for those who are given less privileges in life.

Lastly, cultural distortion has completely changed the meaning of the American Dream. The modern definition of the dream is measured in wealth and status rather than personal success. Achievement is considered to be possessions and status symbols rather than the dedication and hardships behind them. In his essay in The Edgerton Essays, Jeffrey McNeil argues that many people focus on “making money, the big house, the nice cars,” overlooking the effort required to reach these goals in the first place. Social media amplifies this distortion, presenting carefully curated lives that lead to constant comparison and dissatisfaction. Modern consumerism encourages people to tie their worth to what they own, while toxic work culture glorifies endless labor, implying that constant pressure is the only path to value. Together, the real meaning of the American Dream is corrupted, turning into a societal expectation.

In reality, the American Dream has changed from a promise into a privilege. No matter the effort or ingenuity, systemic barriers, economic pressures, and social norms keep most people far from achieving the success they hope to create, revealing that the dream is far less attainable than it is often portrayed.