Graduation Year

2025

Date of Submission

12-2024

Document Type

Open Access Senior Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelor of Arts

Department

Government

Second Department

Philosophy, Politics, and Economics (PPE)

Reader 1

Michael Fortner

Terms of Use & License Information

Terms of Use for work posted in Scholarship@Claremont.

Rights Information

© 2024 Shaira Busnawi

Abstract

The American Dream has long been celebrated as a unifying ideal, promising opportunity, upward mobility, and success to all who work diligently. However, this thesis argues that the Dream no longer fulfills its role as a cohesive organizational mechanism for American society. Instead, it perpetuates inequality, fosters competition over cooperation, and fails to address systemic barriers faced by marginalized communities. The analysis begins with the historical evolution of the American Dream and its transformation in the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis, exposing structural flaws that have eroded public trust in its attainability. Case studies on rural Appalachian communities and women’s rights illustrate how systemic inequities exclude entire groups from accessing the Dream. Drawing on the four tenets of the American Dream, alongside scholarly critiques of race, class, and materialism, the thesis reveals a dissonance between the Dream’s promises and its reality. Ultimately, this work proposes a reimagined Dream centered on community, accountability, and collective progress, challenging the prevailing narrative of individual success to restore its relevance and inclusivity in contemporary society.

Share

COinS