Critical Essay on Our Kids: The American Dream in Crisis

Introduction

Our Kids authored by Robert Putman focuses on the opportunities lost by young adults due to inequality. Putman presents the art of bearing witness to oppression through interacting on a personal basis with the affected. The book does not depend on the raw data, but listens to the plight of those sought as voiceless in the community. Through his blending techniques, Putman provides a remarkable and articulate picture of inequality in the United States. The disparities experienced tend to create a crisis towards the American dream of equal opportunities. The ideology of the "have" and "have not" is depicted whereby children from prestigious backgrounds are granted a lifetime success while those from disadvantaged backgrounds tend to struggle at the bottom. Therefore, the book presents a clear and organized presentation of inequality from all areas including education, parenting, environment, and families. The initial chapters reflect the society by being timid and oblivious towards fighting inequality and poverty. Putnam dedicates the last chapters of the book towards imparting life-changing lessons such as promoting mentorship, early education investment, child care options, and a list of social programs.

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The American dream comprises of securing an exceptional education, a well-paying job, getting a house, accessing medical care, and enjoying prosperity and success. America is believed to be the land of opportunities, and ability and effort can only hinder this. However, opportunity gaps have continued to widen in the last quarter century (Wolfe). America has always been associated with equality regardless of backgrounds, and children should enjoy equal opportunities to transform their lives. However, Our Kids book does not share the same sentiments, and the American dream is under sabotage.

The prevalence of inequality in the USA is what prompted lots of research and discussions portrayed by Putnam. The primary argument focuses on how inequality affects children opportunities and how it strains the advancement beyond the classes into which they found themselves. Putnam relates the situation to his hometown, Port Clinton, Ohio where he had to observe how children originating from disadvantaged backgrounds had to navigate their lifestyle. Putnam compares the situation between the 1950s and now in his hometown. Putnam notes that the disparity levels have widened in the USA and there is a noticeable disparity between children from impoverished and affluent backgrounds (Putnam).

In the 1950s, the community used to support the children to attain their dreams because they were considered as "our kids." Putnam acknowledges that racism was a concern in his hometown because the two African-Americans in his class achieved compared to their parents. However, in the contemporary world, Putnam's hometown has transformed where the underachievers are children from single-parent families, residing in dangerous neighborhoods, with no hope to rise to a high status (Putnam 75). Putnam researches and interacts with real families as examples, and explores parenting, education, and the environment determining how it affects the children opportunity of different classes. Dealing with families required Putnam to access the real family setting including of quartet (a boy, a girl, a father, and a mother), but for more impoverished family, it was difficult to get a father since most are never around (Putnam 70). The children from disadvantaged family tend to be raised differently compared to those in the economically stable family.

The arguments that socio-economic and the environment of children determine their progress in life; I tend to agree with it. As Putnam argues that the children from disadvantaged families tend to have strained relationships, they are prone to obesity, the maternal employment is decreased, church attendance is a struggle, and financial instability is the norm. The absence of essential amenities disrupts what is considered as an ordinary American dream. Putnam included a second-year college student, Andrew who hailed from an affluent family; he says that his parents ensured that dinner was shared as a family and during those moments, sensible conversations could be held, which in turn, shaped his ambitions (Reeves). However, Stephanie, raised by a single mother stated that her family do not eat together and rarely do they talk about their day to day activities. The family dinners are a significant part of our lifestyles and a potent investment that parents utilize to mold or fail their children.

Additionally, the environment matters because the children are growing with children who originate from similar backgrounds. Therefore, challenging a child thinking to pursue something different becomes a struggle because they have never stepped out to the other side of the status. The surrounding are governed with class apartheid that schools and churches are segregated for a particular social level. Most scholars have argued that the data can be altered or camouflaged, but Putnam goes an extra mile to bring the reality by interacting with actual individuals. Jennifer Silva, conducted the interviews to ensure that valuable qualitative information was provided. Therefore, the book offers the naked truth about the society existing in the USA; how the conventional and contemporary world is radically different (Putnam 49).

Social mobility entails the capability of transforming social status. Putnam analyses the generations required to change one's narrative of the social ladder. The principal focus of the American dream is accessing opportunities that could achieve moving up the social status. However, with the pieces of evidence gathered by Putnam, it depicts the possibility of upper middle classes moving up the ladder while lower classes are stuck in poverty (Putnam 233). I agree because income determines social strata, but the majority are fickle concerning the income numbers. Therefore, Putnam argues that majority of the low-income individuals tend to withhold their income earnings because it is shameful. However, based on income earning revelations, Putnam might have been misled because this would unfairly categorize high-income earners in lower classes.

Putnam argues that prejudice and differences are part of what has tarnished the American dream. In the 1950s, most people wanted to get along and enjoy the beauty of life. For instance, Port Clinton was a place where race and social class did not matter during the 1950s. Kids from different backgrounds had the capability of associating and going to same schools and churches where they became friends and exchanged ideas while motivating each other to become the best version of themselves. However, today in the USA, racism, and prejudices play a card that determines the support systems that influence children. Children from disadvantaged backgrounds are always struggling to maintain shelter and afford the necessary amenities since they reside in more impoverished neighborhoods (Bogue). Additionally, the economically challenged children tend to attend schools that are congested and fighting the norm of early pregnancies and substance abuse. Therefore, it is not a surprise that children from financially estranged homes continue to struggle. Most children being raised by single-mothers have been victims of drug abuse, and the reality of absent fathers is because most are incarcerated due to involvement in drug abuse and criminal activities.

Moreover, the issue of individualism. As mentioned before, the conventional society valued the togetherness and elevating the children towards their dreams as a community. However, contemporary America values individualism where affluent parents tend to engage on behalf of the children where they intervene with their connections to ascertain they get the best (Putnam 299). Wealthy parents defend and protect their children from the struggles of reality with the notion of avoiding unnecessary harm. Putnam refers the scenario as airbags because parents cloud their children through providing hand-outs. When you are a struggling parent, there are things you cannot afford for your children. The disadvantaged parents lack the resources; thus, they teach their children importance of conformity, education, and following the rules (Reeskens 486). Underprivileged children have limited options of disengaging from their background because their potential is enclosed and guided by standards.

Conclusion

Finally, parenting attitude matter in shaping the opportunities for their children, it has a substantial impact. Despite the fact that peers have power on influence about substance abuse, parents are not spared (Putnam 53). Parents have the obligation of determining the welfare of their children. Thus, affluent parents are cautious about their children exposure; this ascertains that inappropriate energy is redirected. However, disadvantaged parents disregard their children welfare because they believe necessities are enough. The economic challenges confound children that abusing and selling of drugs would be a gateway towards a better lifestyle. Therefore, Putnam states that the protective way of children from substance abuse is to provide them with the awareness that their lives can be better without drugs.

Works Cited

Bogue, Robert. "Book Review-Our Kids: The American Dream In Crisis - Thor Projects". Thor Projects, 2016, https://www.thorprojects.com/blog/archive/2016/02/29/book-review-kids-american-dream-crisis/. Accessed 14 May 2018.

Putnam, Robert D. Our kids: The American dream in crisis. Simon and Schuster, 2016.

Reeskens, Tim. "Robert D. Putnam: Our Kids: The American Dream In Crisis". European Sociological Review, vol 33, no. 3, 2017, pp. 485-488. Oxford University Press (OUP), doi:10.1093/esr/jcx052. Accessed 14 May 2018.

Reeves, Richard. "Our Kids: The American Dream In Crisis By Robert D Putnam Review - Concerned, Scholarly". The Guardian, 2015, p. 1, https://www.theguardian.com/books/2015/apr/20/our-kids-american-dream-in-crisis-robert-putnam-observer-review. Accessed 14 May 2018.

Wolfe, Alan. "The Persistence and Danger of America's Class Hierarchy". Washington Post, 2015, https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/the-persistence-and-danger-of-americas-class-hierarchy/2015/03/06/fe92bb50-b076-11e4-827f-93f454140e2b_story.html?noredirect=on&utm_term=.dbbd717d5454. Accessed 14 May 2018.