The myth of the American Dream has long represented a powerful narrative framework in American culture and politics, encapsulating the belief that prosperity, success, and upward mobility are achievable for anyone through hard work and determination, regardless of their origins.

This enduring cultural mythology draws on several interconnected narratives: the myth of the self-made individual who achieves success through personal effort alone; the frontier myth, which positions America as a land of boundless opportunity and resources; and the myth of meritocracy, suggesting that success is allocated based solely on merit rather than inherited advantage. Collectively, these narratives have positioned America as a uniquely egalitarian society where each generation can achieve greater prosperity than the last.

However, in recent decades, this idealistic vision has faced increasing scrutiny as empirical evidence reveals growing economic inequality and declining social mobility in the United States. The myth of meritocracy, in particular, has been challenged by research demonstrating how systemic barriers—including racial discrimination, wealth inequality, and unequal access to education and healthcare—significantly influence individual outcomes regardless of personal effort or ability.

Similarly, the frontier myth, once symbolic of limitless potential, appears increasingly outdated in a contemporary landscape where access to essential resources like education, healthcare, and housing has become prohibitively expensive for many Americans. The narrative of continuous progress between generations has also been undermined by economic data showing stagnant wages and diminished opportunities for many working and middle-class families.

This growing disconnect between the promise of upward mobility and the lived experience of many Americans has contributed to political polarisation and disillusionment across the nation, as competing visions of the American Dream and its accessibility clash in public discourse.