Analysis Of Race, Gender, And Privilege In The Pursuit Of The American Dream

Max Weber's conceptual framework for understanding race, class, gender, and sexuality provides an invaluable lens for examining the dynamics of exclusion and privilege in the pursuit of the American Dream. This essay will explore how Weber's six common themes of race, ethnicity, color-blind racism, white privilege, assimilation, and intersectionality can lead to the exclusion of certain groups from achieving the American Dream due to their race, class, gender, and sexuality.

In JO Calmore’s 1982 article published in the Oregon Law Review, the author dives into the historical and current implications of race on the American Dream. Calmore notes that many of the Founding Fathers of the United States “made clear that only privileged white men

Weber identified six core themes that help explain the dynamics of inclusion and exclusion within the American Dream: stratification, social closure, status group, group solidarity, life chances, and authority. Stratification notes how economic inequalities are organized along race and gender lines, such that certain individuals can access more opportunities based on their race or gender, therefore achieving a higher socio-economic status within society. Social closure reflects the political power in the hands of dominant groups, which is organized to prevent other marginalized groups from achieving the American Dream. Status group refers to the development of identity and sense of belonging based on both race and class. Group solidarity is the principle that acknowledges that class based systems rely on the exclusion of certain groups, such as those of a different race or gender, to preserve the social hierarchy of dominance. Life chances reflect the reality that individuals within a class may have different access to resources, opportunities, and networks depending on their race and gender. Finally, authority refers to the current power organizing America which implies that certain race and gender identities are in privileged positions of power, granting them access and advantages within society. Together, these six core themes create a comprehensive framework for understanding how race, class, gender, and sexuality intersect and ultimately impact people's ability to achieve the American