“If you had asked me five years ago about my American Dream, it would have been very different. I truly believe that President Trump tried to steal away the American Dream from most people. I’m sure many people took the American Dream for granted. I know I did, up until Donald Trump became president.
I thought that the American Dream – at least for upper-middle-class white people like myself – was to go to school, get a good education, work, and you could achieve a comfortable happy life. When I was a kid it was assumed that I would go to college, get a job, and support myself and be comfortable.
Have I ever been discriminated against because of my gender? Probably. But I don’t think these have held me back in my career.
When my kids went through elementary school, I saw other kids whose parents had immigrated from horrible situations into the United States. Seeing these people achieve success made me think anyone could achieve the American Dream as well.
I’m a white, cis-gendered, straight married woman. Have I ever been discriminated against because of my gender? Probably. But I don’t think these have held me back in my career. However, as I have gotten older, I’ve become more aware of the subtle stigmas that surround non-cisgender people.
I had gone to grad school after college because with a degree in psychology and art history, you really can’t get a job. I moved back to New York for a guy, who later became my husband, and became an audiologist and that job was really boring. This is what made me apply to grad school.
I think that in today’s day and age, people need to work hard to achieve their American Dream, but they also need a tremendous amount of luck.”
After grad school, I got a job in public health. I think at this point in my life, I have achieved my American Dream. My husband and my kids pretty much have everything we want. But, seeing how tough it is for others, especially these past four years, I recognize that other people may have lost some ground in their American Dream.
I have an intellectual knowledge of the fact that I have privilege. But I can’t imagine what it must be like for people who have less privilege than I do. Even nowadays, people who aren’t straight are discriminated against, trans people are definitely discriminated against.
I think that in today’s day and age, people need to work hard to achieve their American Dream, but they also need a tremendous amount of luck.”
S is…
- 65 Years-Old
- Female, Cisgender
- White
- Middle Class
- Straight
