The American Dream And The American Dream - 1088 Words

In American society, there are many norms that have become essential to citizenship, like owning a home or attending college to pursue higher education. The American Dream drove Americans to improve their living standards and live luxurious suburban lifestyles, but quickly it became evident that in order to achieve the American Dream, people were forced to take on debt. Mortgages, credit cards, and student loans became a part of regular conversation for the middle-class and were crucial to upholding societal standards. In the United States, debt is required for American citizenship, especially for the middle-class. Types of debt determine whether or not a person’s citizenship is diminished. For example, medical debt and student loans are†¦show more content†¦However, Shklar does not address different types of debt that are essential to the middle-class’ achievements in society. Dwyer, et. al., are that there has been a generational shift that has increased the amount of debt in American society, which can be attributed to the democratization of credit and a shift in desired lifestyles (Dwyer, et. al., 728). Dwyer, et. al., argue that the generational shift has directly impacted younger generations because the transition to adulthood has become harder and in order for younger generations to be independent, they must â€Å"[make] consequential choices within the opportunities and constraints of their social context† (Dwyer, et. al., 729). Essentially, younger generations do not have the same financial means that older generations have, therefore, they must take on some form of debt in order to advance further and to better their standing in society. For example, student loans help people attain higher education which is a long-term investment: â€Å"a college education is an investment in human capital that is crucial to improving one’s life chances† (Dwyer, et. al., 729). College education is worth the positive debt be cause it opens a person up to more opportunities like employment or professional degrees, such as law and medical degrees. However, there are impacts from negative forms of debt, such as credit card debt, that hinder a person’s citizenship and social equality. Due toShow MoreRelatedAmerican Dreams : The American Dream1068 Words   |  5 PagesAmerican Dream? American Dream: Noun, the ideals of freedom, equality, and opportunity traditionally held to be available to every American. That is the definition of the American dream according to Dictionary.com, but the American Dream is more than a definition, but a way of life for many. 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