The American dream as it was defined in the 30s (James Truslow Adams), for most Americans from 1920 on was to own a house in the suburbs, to raise a family and enjoy a dignified prosperity in America, land of the free.
Another story is the American dream in 2020. The millennials have yet to redefine the American dream for their generation, whether this is job security, free college education, an affordable home.
Both in Uk and US the young generation between 15 and 25 years of age voted overwhelmingly in 2019 and 2020 for the left and supported socialist candidates, respectively Jeremy Corbyn and Bernie Sanders. For the Gen Y socialism is not a taboo topic anymore, demonstrating that what we are witnessing is a shift in paradigm.
In the 21st century can the American dream endure? To the Gen Y the American dream translates in a more complex set of values, after all maybe not only material ones.
As never before there are more body and soul trends, philosophies, practices, meditation, yoga, spiritual ways promoted today, a selfless generation is about to take shape, individualism one of the staples of American society is challenged by many programs that encourage team spirit and collective initiatives. We live today in an era of teenage social activists. As never before globalization takes deep roots in the fabric of our planet. So what was the American dream in the mid 20th century can very well become a global dream in the mid 21st century. With the same characteristics Roosevelt was promising Americans in the 40s, freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom from want and freedom from fear. It's not anymore a dream but can be a reality that by 2040 the 4 freedoms considered by Roosevelt the birthright of every American to become common values in a globalized world, globalized also in democratic ways rather than mere technologies and financial instruments. Only from this perspective I see the American dream enriching itself with new meanings for a new age.
Elena Malec 1/29/2020, California
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