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The American Dream: Social Mobility Is Achievable

579 Words3 Pages

The American Dream, the dream that we earn a college degree, own our own home, take vacations and move up the social ladder. Is this achievable for all Americans? Some think yes, some think no, but we all agree that it involves social mobility. Social mobility is the movement up or down the social class ladder. Although there may be obstacles that slow the process of achieving social mobility, it is still achievable. Those failures and obstacles you encounter can only make you stronger.
There is something else that plays a big role in the social mobility and the American Dream, which is structural mobility. Structural mobility is the movement up or down the social class ladder that is due more to the changes in the structure of the society …show more content…

Although not directly related, I think this is very similar to the debate of nature vs. nurture. We are given a certain set of opportunities and place within a position within the societal structure, these we have no control over and are similar to nature. Social mobility on the other hand can be influenced by our efforts and environments, and is therefore similar to nurture. Life chances are our nature and structural mobility is our nurture. Our life chances we can’t really control because we are given them. However, being given them, allows us to change the circumstances to what we want. Structural mobility cannot be as easily controlled because it involves the society as a whole and not as individuals.
Due to the fact that structural mobility is out of the hands of individuals, they must focus on the life chances they are given and how they can help them achieve social mobility. Then, if the structural mobility makes it possible you can seize the moment and achieve the American Dream. As I’ve mentioned before, this all has to do with believing you can do it and letting nothing stop you. Once you have that motivation you will be able to achieve almost anything in life that you want

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