Introduction

An Essay

The American Dream has shaped peoples desires thought out our lifetimes, from folk stories to music to even advertisements the American Dream is there in the background as a driving force to get Americans to achieve. While the American Dream is supposed to be the “perfect life “ it is nearly impossible to achieve. Small factors from your financial situation at birth to your sexual orientation can ruin your chances of living this ideal.

Imagine a child that can draw, they are decent at art but their family can’t afford art supplies or paper for them to draw on and improve. This is a reality for many children. Some people are often put in situations where they need to decide on eating or working on their career. Writer Tracie McMillan has experienced this first hand. She describes the shame she felt at being forced to use foodstamps because she prided herself on being self sufficient (McMillan 1) she also had this feeling that she didn’t qualify as poor because she is Caucasian (McMillan 1) the American Dreams view on pride for being self sufficient and prejudice on those who are in need of help is damaging to our country because many people cannot achieve without a little help and societally shaming those who need help is morally wrong.

Sexuality is not something you can control. That is widely known. It’s a shame that most homosexuals experience shame or are victims over attempting to find love. In 1945 shock aversion therapy was a widespread treatment for homosexuality as well as lobotomies (Scot 1). If being shocked and having your brain hemispheres connection severed because of love is your definition of living the American Dream be my guest to experience it but more people would classify that as torture. Hate for homosexuality is still present in current American culture and hate because of love is a clear direct failure of the American Dream.

Women used to be the ornaments of the household. They used to have no right to vote or work outside the house. Women still have clear disadvantages compared with men, namely the wage gap and the pink tax. In the workplace it’s not uncommon for women to make 32% less than men for the same job (Ortiz-Ospinia 1) women also experience the pink tax where products geared to women are more expensive than their male counterparts. (Ortiz-Ospinia 1) women also feel pressured to buy more expensive products than men to care for themselves (Ortiz-Ospinia) These differences lead to less women having disposable income and leading to them being marginalized. This marginalization causes American women to have even more obstacles when going for the American Dream.

Mentally Ill people have a stigma. When most people don’t care if you go to the doctor if you’re sick, mentally Ill peoples experience shame and judging. (Szabo 1) the amount of mentally I’ll people who don’t get treatment because of the shame is a staggering 60% of adults with mental illness (Szabo 1). That’s ridiculous! These illnesses can prevent you from becoming successful, one of the major factors of that coveted American Dream.

Poverty sexuality gender and mental illness are just a few examples of ways the American Dream fails the people in this country. What these examples all have in common is hope of improving. If these people weren’t shamed for being who they are when they cannot control their situations the American Dream wouldn’t be way more achievable for everyone.

Obituaries

Text message conversation

Comic Strip

A Rap Song

Sorces.

Mcmillan, Tracie. “What Do We Think Poverty Looks Like?” The New York Times, The New York Times, 8 July 2017, www.nytimes.com/2017/07/08/opinion/sunday/poverty-snap-food-stamps-.html.

Ortiz-Ospinia, Esteban, and Max Roser. “Economic Inequality by Gender .” Our World in Data, Mar. 2018, ourworldindata.org/economic-inequality-by-gender.

Scot, Jamie. “Shock the Gay Away: Secrets of Early Gay Aversion Therapy Revealed (PHOTOS).” The Huffington Post, TheHuffingtonPost.com, 7 Dec. 2017, www.huffingtonpost.com/jamie-scot/shock-the-gay-away-secrets-of-early-gay-aversion-therapy-revealed_b_3497435.html.

Spengler , Teo. “Restrictions of a Convicted Felon .” Leagal Beagle, 15 Mar. 18AD, legalbeagle.com/6059710-restrictions-convicted-felons.html.

Szabo, Liz. “Cost of Not Caring: Stigma Set in Stone.” USA Today, Gannett Satellite Information Network, 12 Jan. 2015, www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2014/06/25/stigma-of-mental-illness/9875351/.