You can do whatever you Get rich or die trying. The happiness. Freedom, hum and meritocracy. Rags to House, picket fence, fami suburbs. To be rich and fa able to achieve all your g happy with yourself. Wor the top. Living what you American Dreams Prospe security. Absolute freedom in the home and career. If hard you can succeed and happiness. To be free from
American Dreams
Š2011 Kimberly Donoughe All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior permission of the author. Design and photography by Kimberly Donoughe. This book is set in Meridien, with Univers 45, 55, & 65.
American Dreams discovering the new American Dream
Kimberly Donoughe
Living the Dream “My only fear in life, when it comes to money, is what’s happening in the United States of America. The American dream is dead for the majority of America.” —Suze Orman, television finance expert, 2010 Only fifty-two percent of American adults surveyed in 2010 believed they were living the American Dream. Of those who did not think they were living the Dream, only forty-four percent claimed to believe they could ever partake in it. Despite such disheartening numbers among Americans today, seventy-four percent of those polled agreed that it is still possible to attain the American Dream in today’s world. Contrary to what American media would have the public believe, the American Dream is still very much alive. If there truly is an American Dream, why are only half of Americans living it? Perhaps the trouble with the American Dream lies not in whether it is fact or fiction or whether the stocks are up or down—perhaps the problem with the American Dream today is simply our understanding of the term. The expression “The American Dream” is a part of our national lexicon but there is no definitive definition since the Dream is interpreted differently by everyone.
1
The American Dream has grown to be an all-encompassing topic ranging from civil rights to material possessions to raising a happy family. The most prominent American Dream— thanks to popular media—includes a large house in the suburbs, two cars in the garage, a brood of beautiful children, and all the household goods you could ever dream of. The “American Dream” that is missing from the lives of so many Americans today is merely an artifact of our past. Today’s America is more Modern Family than Leave it to Beaver but people’s understanding of the Dream has remained the same as it was sixty years ago. It is clear today that the American Dream is not a cookie-cutter blueprint to American life to which we must conform in order to be happy. Instead the American Dream is a collection of each individual American’s dreams. Any American who strives to reach his or her own personal dreams and ambitions is reaching for the American Dream every day.
A brief history “That American Dream of a better, richer, and happier life for all our citizens of every rank, which is the greatest contribution we have ever made to the thought and welfare of the world. That dream or hope has been present from the start.” —James Truslow Adams, author, 1931 In 1776 the dream of a better life free from oppression by British rule led one colonial American man to write a document that would change history. When Thomas Jefferson wrote in the Declaration of Independence “we hold these Truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness,” he not only set the stage for the American Revolution, but the tone for all American history that would follow. The idea that spawned the American Dream goes back even further than the Declaration of Independence. Jefferson was well read in the work of British philosopher John Locke who wrote in his Second Treatise of Government in 1688, “the state of nature has a law of nature to govern it, which obliges everyone: and reason, which is that law, teaches all mankind who will but consult it, that being all equal and independent, no one ought to harm another in his life, health, liberty, or possessions.” Without the influence of
3
Locke’s views on human rights, Thomas Jefferson would have never penned the Declaration of Independence, and we would still be paying taxes to the Queen of England. Abraham Lincoln—the United States’ sixteenth president and the man credited with ending slavery—had his own interpretation of the American Dream. Lincoln was born in a log cabin in rural Illinois, but grew up to be President of the United States. Perhaps it was his own lifetime of hard work that led him to give the following speech in 1859: “this progress by which the poor, honest, industrious, and resolute man raises himself, that he may work on his own account, and hire somebody else, is that improvement in condition that human nature is entitled to, is that improvement that is intended to be secured by those institutions under which we live, is the great principle for which this government was formed.” In 1863 Abraham Lincoln signed the Homestead Act into law. Under this new law all American men, heads of household, or immigrants who have
never fought against the United States in war could be granted a one-hundred sixty acre plot of federal land on which to live. If a homesteader continued to live on that parcel for five consecutive years while improving the land by constructing a dwelling of at least twelve by fourteen feet and growing crops, he could apply to have the deed permanently transferred to his name. By the end of the Homestead Act in 1976, 270 million acres—ten percent—of American government land had been transferred to the people. The American Dream may have begun at the birth of our nation but the term “American Dream” was not coined until 1931. During the height of the Great Depression James Truslow Adams wrote about the desires of the American people in his book Epic of America. Truslow believed that all people aspired to, “that American Dream of a better, richer, and happier life.” In January of 1941 President Franklin Delano Roosevelt gave his State of the Union address to Congress largely focusing on the wars that were being waged in Europe that the nation would later be pulled into. Roosevelt made it clear that people all over the world had a certain four rights—freedom of expression, freedom of worship, freedom from want, and freedom from fear. In March of 1947 President Roosevelt’s successor, Harry Truman, gave a speech to students at Baylor University in which
4
he declared the three human rights to be “freedom of worship—freedom of speech—freedom of enterprise”. Though only six years apart, these two presidents’ speeches came in completely different political climates. In 1941 the world was being overrun by the armies of Germany, Italy, and Japan; in 1947 the Cold War with communist USSR was just beginning. The G.I. Bill of 1944 was passed by congress in anticipation of the flood of WWII veterans that would soon return to American soil. After World War I, many of the returning troops were jobless and homeless and received little if any government aid. The G.I. Bill sought to prevent another generation of these so called “forgotten men” by providing money for college and vocational training, guarantying home loans, and providing unemployment pay for those who needed it. By 1947 WWII veterans made up forty-nine percent of all college admissions. Between 1944 and 1952 the Veteran’s Administration backed nearly 2.4 million home loans for veterans, setting America up for a period of record-breaking home ownership and the ensuing baby boom. The 1950s brought the first broadcasts of television sitcoms into American homes. Now American families could gather around their televisions to watch humorous stories about domestic American life including Leave it to Beaver
and All in the Family. These shows and others of the period focus on families, marriage, education, and career within the arena of the middle-class suburban neighborhood, complete with white picket fences and freshly baked cookies.
truly live the American Dream that was founded nearly two-hundred years before.
With the rise of the American Civil Rights Movement in the 1950s came many new leaders ready to shape the future of the nation—the most prominent of whom was Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. of Montgomery, Alabama. King’s most famous speech was made on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C. on August 28, 1963. King declared his dreams for equality among all people, saying “I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: ‘we hold these truths to be self-evident: that all mean are created equal.’” It is clear that King’s American Dream is for Americans to
5
Today the American Dream is often just a phrase used to sell the American people luxury vehicles, describe sporting events, win political favor, or evoke nostalgia for the stereotypical middle-class suburban lifestyle of the 1950s. The use of the term seemingly has not evolved since the 1960s, leaving Americans wondering whether the American Dream is still alive. The Dream is not dead, but instead has been slowly, quietly evolving. As the cultural ideals of the American people shift through the decades, so too will the American Dream.
Variations on a dream Career—The dream of working in a rewarding occupation is largely fueled by American capitalism and the pursuit of wealth.
Security—Being comfortable and secure is important in order to enjoy the Dream. Success—Whether in the home, the workplace, or the world, success is one of the most sought after and most loosely defined aspects of the American Dream.
Family—Raising a healthy, happy family has long held a place in the American Dream. Freedom—The principle that this nation was built upon leads us to continue to stand up for our rights today.
Upward mobility—From the very start, the American Dream has been about being able to pull yourself up from nothing and become whatever you want you be. Providing a better life for yourself and your children is an important aspect of this dream.
Happiness—The pursuit of happiness. Home ownership—The Homestead Act of 1892 and the G.I. Bill of 1944 helped build this dream of owning a home in America. Money—Wealth and material possessions play a large role in the American Dream.
6
Dreams of Americans “I just want to end up really enjoying whatever I do and be really satisfied with my career, family, and all that good stuff.” —Amelia Lepak, student, 2011
Twenty-six graduating seniors in the graphic design program at Northeastern University have provided insight into the dreams of Americans today. The twenty-three American students were asked two simple yet weighted questions: what do they think is the American Dream, and what are your own personal dreams or ambitions? These questions were chosen to reveal the divide between the American Dream as we understand it and our own dreams that we allow to shape our lives. The three international students in the class were asked one question in addition to the previous two—what you think are the “Dreams” of your home
7
country? Being raised outside the United States has provided these students with an outsider’s perspective on the American Dream, and their responses to these three questions provide us as Americans both a window into their culture and a mirror onto ourselves. The difference revealed between American Dreams and the dreams of Americans is what lies behind the theories that the American Dream has died. Many people today are unable to realize the American Dream in the same ways as their parents and grandparents, but they succeed in reaching new goals that are more in keeping with the times. The future of the American Dream can only be revealed through exploration of the current dreams of Americans.
8
Liz Kelley Cincinnati, OH >6th Generation American
The American Dream according to Liz
Liz’s dream
The American Dream is owning your own home, having a family, and having a well-paying job.
I want to live abroad at some point and be able to be a successful designer.
9
10
Jess Leary Canton, MA >6th Generation American
The American Dream according to Jess
Jess’ dream
I guess the American Dream is that if you work hard you can achieve whatever you want within reason.
I want to be happy and successful.
11
12
Tiffany Warren Lunenburg, MA >6th Generation American
The American Dream according to Tiffany
Tiffany’s dream
The American Dream is prosperity, not necessarily in a money way, but in a health, happiness, success kind of way.
I want to have a successful career in that I make pieces that I’m proud of, and to have a good family. I think eventually I want to live off the map. I don’t have any need to climb a corporate ladder or work in a high rise.
13
14
Kristen Richardson North Attleboro, MA 6th Generation American
The American Dream according to Kristen
Kristen’s dream
I think the American Dream is having a house, a car, a job, and a family and not having to worry about the security of these things.
I just don’t want to worry about having enough food to eat. I want a place to live, food to eat, and to be with people I care about. I don’t really care about having a car or a big screen TV because they aren’t really necessities. I just want a small nest-egg.
15
16
Taylor Bodnar Exeter, NH 4th Generation American
The American Dream according to Taylor
Taylor’s dream
I would say that the American Dream is if you work hard you can be whoever you want to be, and that means making the money you want, and having the family or career you want.
I want to be a successful designer. I want to have a family, and I want to make money, but not excessive. I want to be comfortable. I want to be able to live within my means, and I want to be happy—hopefully all those things equate happiness.
17
18
Kristen Boice Hilltown, PA 4th Generation American
The American Dream according to Kristen
Kristen’s dream
I feel like the American Dream is an outdated term that was used in the fifties of having a trophy wife, two kids, a house in the suburbs, and a golden retriever. The American Dream is success in your own life.
Being happy with myself.
19
20
Geneva Cegelis Bellbrook, OH 4th Generation American
The American Dream according to Geneva
Geneva’s dream
The American Dream is having a family, being well respected in your community, having good health, and just being happy. It’s genuine happiness.
I want to be a successful designer, do something good for my community, have a family someday, be happy in my job, enjoy what I do, and travel more.
21
22
Kimberly Donoughe Uxbridge, MA 4th Generation American
The American Dream according to Kimberly
Kimberly’s dream
The American Dream is a house in the suburbs filled with Maytag appliances, a few kids, a dog, and a color TV.
I want a to find a career in something I love, get married, raise a happy family, and someday have lots of grandkids. I want a house where I can grow a big vegetable garden. It would be really nice if I could see the world.
23
24
Joe Helferty Staten Island, NY 4th Generation American
The American Dream according to Joe
Joe’s dream
I think the American Dream is to use your time your own way, to pursue your own interests or ambitions—kind of like we’re all in the pursuit of happiness.
I would like to spend the remainder of my days doing things for myself. Live a life less dictated by what’s expected of me, or what is assigned to me, and to live a life that’s uniquely me.
25
26
Sara Abad Parkridge, NJ 3rd Generation American
The American Dream according to Sara
Sara’s dream
I would say the American Dream is to be successful, but how do you define success? I think freedom is a big part as well.
I want to be successful in hopefully this career path, but if not, in one that suits me, and to have a very happy life.
27
28
Amy Hebblethwaite Rochester, NY 3rd Generation American
The American Dream according to Amy
Amy’s dream
The American Dream is finding a place to live that makes you happy, becoming somewhat successful, and making enough money to not be poor.
I want to find a place where I’m not miserable. I plan to do the West Coast for a little while.
29
30
Amelia Lepak Auburn, NY 3rd Generation American
The American Dream according to Amelia
Amelia’s dream
I think the American Dream is that you can do whatever you want. There are no limitations.
I just want to end up really enjoying whatever I do, and be really satisfied with my career, family, all that good stuff.
31
32
Annalise Ogle Littleton, MA 3rd Generation American
The American Dream according to Annalise
Annalise’s dream
I guess the American Dream is just to have the ability to have control over your own destiny. This feeling of freedom we have in this country makes you feel like you can do anything. You don’t have that in any other country. All your doors are open.
I would like to be successful in my career, maybe own my own business, get married, have a family, and live in the suburbs.
33
34
Heather Stirling Woburn, MA 3rd Generation American
The American Dream according to Heather
Heather’s dream
I think the American Dream is suburbs, cute little house, parents, kids, dog, whitecollar jobs, the kids are into little league or football, PTA; I guess like the fifties. When I think of the American Dream it’s very Leave it to Beaver.
I want to have a house, have a family, a white-collar job, to be successful—not to be rich necessarily—but never having to worry about money.
35
36
Laura Upham Saratoga Springs, NY 3rd Generation American
The American Dream according to Laura
Laura’s dream
I think the American Dream is that you can work hard enough and take care of yourself in order to be successful, and you’re not really entitled to a lot of outside help from the government and you’re free to do whatever you want with your prize or earnings.
I guess my ambitions for life are to have a variety of experiences and never be locked into one path. I would like to make a comfortable living but I’m not really seeking a lot of wealth or social status.
37
38
Krissy Lattanzio Sayville, NY 2nd Generation American
The American Dream according to Krissy
Krissy’s dream
I think that the American Dream is meeting your goals but simultaneously finding happiness or contentment. I think part of the American Dream is to at least try to give your kids more than you had.
My dreams are to find a job that makes me money but also makes me happy at the end of the day. Something that can support myself and my family.
39
40
Anthony Moriates Sayville, NY 2nd Generation American
The American Dream according to Anthony
Anthony’s dream
The American Dream is being able to pursue whatever profession you want, and live wherever you want, and have religious freedoms. Not being told exactly what to do.
I have always wanted to start my own business— something in the realm of design—and move to the West Coast.
41
42
Corey Holland Bensalem, PA 1st Generation American
The American Dream according to Corey
Corey’s dream
The American Dream is successfully finding a way to provide for yourself and your family doing what you love.
I just want to design things and ride bikes and sing while doing it.
43
44
Ryan Lee Chatham, NJ 2nd Generation American
The American Dream according to Ryan
Ryan’s dream
I think the American Dream today is to get rich, make a family, have a big house and lots of property, and have a steady-paying job.
I want to become a successful art director with a house in the suburbs, a wife, and two kids. And a dog. I want a dog.
45
46
Joyce Lin Nutley, NJ 1st Generation American
The American Dream according to Joyce
Joyce’s dream
I guess the American Dream is a house, two cars, two kids—one girl, one boy—and to be in debt.
I want to have a job and a house.
47
48
Lisa Rosenberg Manhasset, NY 1st Generation American
The American Dream according to Lisa
Lisa’s dream
I think the American Dream is to live in the suburbs, in a house with a white picket fence, 2.3 kids, a dog, and a middle-class job.
I would like to live in an apartment in a city and have a job and enough money to travel a little bit.
49
50
Manny Sasanian Roslyn, NY 1st Generation American
The American Dream according to Manny
Manny’s dream
The American Dream is just work hard and you will succeed. America is a place where no matter what you believe in you will be accepted. Freedom of speech.
I want to be with people that I trust completely. Basically nothing matters as long as I’m with them. I want to have really awesome kids.
51
52
Allan Yu Brooklyn, NY 1st Generation American
The American Dream according to Allan
Allan’s dream
The American Dream is whatever your personal definition of success is. America is the land of opportunity.
I want to be the best at whatever my current ambitions are. I guess right now that’s just design so I want to be the best at that. In history. And just be happy.
53
54
Veronica Zhu North Haven, CT 1st Generation American
The American Dream according to Veronica
Veronica’s dream
The American Dream is rags to riches. Come from nothing and become something.
I want to go into book cover design, get married, and have a family.
55
56
Hala Abuzaid Jeddah, Saudi Arabia International Student
The Saudi Dream according to Hala
The American Dream according to Hala
Hala’s dream
The Saudi people are trying to have more opportunities. We have a high rate of unemployment and there is a lot of corruption. We want the government to reform themselves and regulate the businesses. The people want more research schools and more chances for scientific achievement.
I’m not sure what the American Dream is but it’s something I always hear about. Some Saudis think if they come here not that their lives are going to be better, but that in America things are different and they’ll have more freedom.
I wish we had more rights for women. I want more women in high positions in government. I want to achieve something that will serve my country and my society, something that would leave a mark in this life.
57
58
Farah Bint Shaker Amman, Jordan International Student
The Jordanian Dream according to Farah
The American Dream according to Farah
Farah’s dream
The people in Jordan want free speech and the creation of more parties in the government. They want intelligence to back off a little and be less involved in the youth, especially in the universities. I feel like everyone needs to know that we are all loyal to the king, but we need a lot of reform. We need to fight corruption. We want to be equal and have equal rights.
I might be wrong, but I think the American Dream is for people to vote more, to be more involved in the public sector, to improve the economy, and lower unemployment. The dreams here are different from the ones back home because you already have free speech.
First I want to get experience in Europe or America, then I would like to go back home and help my community and help reform Jordan for the better.
59
60
Jerome Ng Singapore International Student
The Singaporean Dream according to Jerome
The American Dream according to Jerome
Jerome’s dream
I believe the Singaporean Dream now is to be democratic, but those ideas are being suppressed by the government. We don’t have freedom of speech or human rights. I believe that a new generation of youth will bring up democracy in Singapore.
I read on Wikipedia that the American Dream is about personal freedom and personal rights. To me the American Dream is about meritocracy—that everyone has an equal chance and equal rights.
My religion is Catholicism, so all my beliefs and dreams come from that. All my ideas about freedom come from my religion. We want freedom but we aren’t supposed to abuse that freedom. I want the freedom of Catholicism instead of the freedom of the world.
61
Summary “There’s something about the American spirit—inherent in the American spirit—we don’t hang on to the past. We always move forward.” —Barack Obama, President of the United States, 2009
This group of students has come together from a variety of backgrounds and will soon branch off again into a wide range of new paths. Just as each of student has a different plan for after graduation, each person has his or her own interpretation of the American Dream as well as a unique set of goals for the future. This section addresses the trends in these students’ ideas about the American Dream and dreams for their own futures. The most prevalent dream overall is having a family. Family is most common in descriptions of the
63
American Dream and career ranks first in dreams of Americans; however, freedom receives first mention in the most American Dreams, and success is most frequently first in descriptions of personal dreams. The American Dream is interpreted differently by every American, and each American has a different set of their own dreams they seek to fulfill in their lifetime. It is because of its dynamic nature that the American Dream will never die, but this same nature prevents the Dream from ever being defined.
The American Dream frequency of terms used to describe the American Dream
kids dog family moving job
house work hard finding suburbs
health
become pursue rich car a lot
happiness success life
live feel freedom
whatever
64
Dreams of Americans frequency of terms used to describe personal dreams
family suburbs kids
house
good
married
job design career enjoy
travel
money things
happiness comfortable
own business
best
success
west coast
life
live
65
whatever
The American Dream
m on ey se cu rit y su cc up es w s ar d m ob ilit y
ha pp ho in es m s e ow ne rs hi p
fre ed om
fa m ily
ca re er
frequency with which each type of American Dream is described
66
Dreams of Americans frequency with which each type of personal dream is described
67
Divided dreams frequency of overlap between individual students’ descriptions of the American Dream and their own personal dreams
the American Dream only
concurrent dreams
68
dreams of Americans only
Top priorities ideas that receive first mention most frequently in the American Dream and the dreams of Americans
The American Dream
Dreams of Americans
27% of all students asked about the American Dream mentioned freedom first
30% of all students asked to describe their own personal dreams listed success first
31% of female students mentioned home ownership first when describing the American Dream
31% of female students listed success first in their own dream
57% of male students first think of freedom when asked about the American Dream
28% of male students mention freedom in their personal dream before anything else; another 28% give success first mention
100% of international students interviewed believe freedom is the most prevalent American Dream
66% of international students interviewed listed freedom first in their personal dream
69
70
Acknowledgements Since this book marks the end of my college education I suppose it is a fine point to stop and thank my parents for giving me the opportunity and the drive to go to college and improve myself. Thank you for encouraging me to follow my dreams and for transferring funds to my bank account when I found myself at a zero balance with no groceries or print credits to speak of. Without your lifelong support I am certain I would be a bag lady in Downey, California today. I can’t thank the entire May 2011 (and January 2012) graduating Graphic Design class at Northeastern University enough for allowing me to use their interviews and portraits. Without their participation and patience I would never be allowed to graduate.
71
A special thanks goes to Ryan Lee for allowing me to borrow his camera on several occasions—even after I nearly destroyed it right in front of him. Annalise—thank you for letting me bounce all my crazy ideas off of you for the duration of this project. Two heads are better than one! Thank you to John Kane for your guidance throughout this whole process and for pointing me in the right direction when I went astray.
Sources Arrington, Todd. “Homesteading by the Numbers.” Homestead National Monument. U.S. National Park Service, 24 Apr. 2007. Web. Nov. 2010. <http:// www.nps.gov/home/historyculture/ abouthomesteadactlaw.htm>.
StrategyOne. StrategyOne American Dream Survey. Presentation. StrategyOne, 19 Oct. 2010. Web. Nov. 2010. <http://www.slideshare.net/StrategyOne/strategyone-american-dreamsurvey>.
Cullen, Jim. The American Dream: a Short History of an Idea That Shaped a Nation. Oxford: Oxford UP, 2004. Print.
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. “GI Bill History.” G.I. Bill Website. U.S Department of Veterans Affairs, 6 Nov. 2009. Web. Nov. 2010. <http://www. gibill.va.gov/gi_bill_info/history.htm>.
King, Martin L. Jr. “I have a Dream Speech.” Lincoln Memorial, Washington, D.C. 28 Aug. 1963. Address. Martin Luther King Online. Web. Mar. 2011. < http://www.mlkonline.net/dream. html>. Potter, Lee Ann and Wynell Schamel. “The Homestead Act of 1862.” Social Education 61, 6 (October 1997):359–364. Roosevelt, Franklin D. “State of the Union Address 1941.” Capitol Building, Washington, D.C. 6 Jan. 1941. Address. Presidential Rhetoric. Web. Nov. 2010. <http://www.presidentialrhetoric.com/ historicspeeches/roosevelt_franklin/ fourfreedoms.html>.
72
Uzgalis, William. “John Locke.” The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (Winter 2010 Edition). Edward N. Zalta (ed.). <http://plato.stanford.edu/archives/ win2010/entries/locke/>. Woolley, John T. and Gerhard Peters, The American Presidency Project. Santa Barbara, CA. Web. Mar. 2011. <http:// www.presidency.ucsb.edu>
Why is the American Dream so hard to achieve in present-day America? Perhaps the problem with the American Dream is not that it is out of reach for Americans but that the standard definitions of the American Dream are outdated. Todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Americans dream of something outside the traditional wife, two kids, and house in the suburbs. By considering the individual dreams of young Americans we can begin to change the mythos of the American Dream.