In Pursuit of the American Dream
BY AVNI MISHRA '23
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In 2003, Cornell’s average acceptance rate sat at 30.9%. Over the past 20 years, that number has dwindled to 10.7%. Admission rates have been on a downward trajectory for the past two decades with new record lows every year. With an increased emphasis on pursuing higher education and better paying jobs, applicants compete fiercely to attain an ideal: the American Dream. In today’s society, the American Dream is not just a goal, but also a lifestyle—working assiduously and pursuing the highest education will reward you with corporate heaven and a six figure salary. As such, the race to boast admission to the best schools and jobs at top companies has seen an upward trend. But as the atmosphere grows more relentless, is the dedication worth the reward? In reality, the American Dream perpetuates the idealization of richer individuals and industries; in doing so, we threaten to destabilize society at large because non-managerial positions play a fundamental role in our daily lives.
The anticipation of receiving a promotion has not always defined our lives. Over time, the perfect American household shifted from a self-sufficient, master craftsman’s studio to a nuclear family with a 9 to 5 job paying for all the family’s needs. Higher paying occupations have replaced trades such as carpentry or farming that were once necessities, and those skilled jobs became outsourced. In doing so, these jobs have fallen out of public consciousness. The media’s obsession with high earning job titles, such as CEOs and stock brokers, sustains this perception, as disproportionate representation of richer individuals with lavish lifestyles on social media and lifestyle blogs make these accomplishments appear more attainable. This in turn causes a larger overlap in people’s goals. In contrast, lower earning job titles, such as customer service jobs, which arose from the transition into outsourcing labor, are perceived as inferior. To many, these jobs are menial and are thus given lower wages; the lower pay grade then reaffirms their secondary status in people’s minds, and the cycle continues. In the long term, this thinking can harm society’s functionality. We have already glimpsed the prospect of being stuck at home except to do basic but necessary tasks like buying food each week. During the height of the pandemic, essential workers included not only medical professionals but also manufacturing workers, grocery store employees, and teachers. Without them, maintaining critical infrastructure would be impossible, something we can begin to see in the recent rise of labor shortages. As essential jobs continue to be scrutinized under the lens of the American Dream, more people are unable to justify their working conditions and quit. The effects are reeling: as related by CBS news, inflation rates jumped to 9.1% in July of this year, the highest price spike in 40 years. Without change, this trend will only continue. To remedy this downward American spiral, it is critical to change our mindset when considering the skill, time, and patience necessary to work certain jobs. Occupations that don’t fit the American Dream are just as—if not more—vital to the way we function, so it is time we begin treating them as such. Just as we applaud billionaires like Elon Musk or Jeff Bezos, we need to extend the praise to service workers and acknowledge their critical role in society. |
