Not your father’s American Dream: Dan Kadlec on the aspirations of Millennials

Everything must change, so why should the American Dream be any different? Still, Time Magazine financial writer Dan Kadlec suggests some cause for alarm in the aspirations of young adults today, as he describes in this February 2014 article from the magazine.

Read it here: Kadlec, "Millennials put their surprising stamp on the American Dream” 

 

1. The headline on Kadlec’s article asserts that Millennials’ interpretation of the American Dream is “surprising.” What is surprising about it to Kadlec? Is it surprising to you? Why or why not?
2. Kadlec seems to suggest that there is something troubling or noteworthy about how much the goals and priorities of the Millennial generation differ from those of generations before. Does it seem reasonable and accurate compare the aspirations and priorities of people at very different ages and stages of life? Why or why not?
3. What was Kadlec’s point in mentioning the Rolling Stone article? How well does that paragraph support Kadlec’s main points? Explain your reasoning.
4. What is your American Dream? To what extent is it aligned with the priorities of your generational group (whichever it is) as Kadlec describes them? Write an essay describing your American Dream and comparing it with the dream of your parents and their generation. How have historical and economic conditions shaped your dream?

Comments

[Jessica Holanda]

The American Dream is constantly being altered due to the legacy of what the generation before them has left behind. For the 90's kids generation, we are rapidly realizing that the common vision of the american dream is a dead end road. Higher education is near unnecessary unless one's goal actually requires a higher education to be a doctor, lawyer, engineer, scientists etc. Today, not only is self employment an american dream for Millennials, but it is absolutely reasonable with scarce jobs and the fact that "Many college graduates have taken a job that don't require a degree"(Kadlec). Traveling is a goal because it expands our knowledge of other cultures, which improves political communication and negotiation. Self employment is a more fulfilling dream because you begin with a passion or talent and it grows not only into a business (which any community can always use) but it also yields to greater empiricism, that a degree can't offer.

[Patrick Hill]

Is the American Dream slipping away? In his article “Millennials Put Their Surprising Stamp on the American Dream,” Dan Kadlec states that every generation has its own view on what the American Dream is, but the Millennials have transformed it completely. He states that today people mostly “want to travel and not work slavishly for the man,” (Kadlec). In the past Kadlec describes the dream as owning a home, having a good job, having retirement security, and doing better than the previous generation. In a recent poll though Kadlec points out “38% of Millennials say travel is part of the American Dream, exceeding the 28% who name retirement,” (Kadlec). He also explains that home ownership is at a lower rate as well. He explains the reason for this being is what the Millennial have been through. Katz states that hey have seen the foreclosure crisis, friends out of school settle for mediocre jobs, parent’s retirement funds crumble, and lived through the great recession. This has taken a great effect on this generation he points out.
I agree with the point Katz makes that the American Dream is changing, a point that needs to be brought up is that it is not slipping away. The dream is changing to something more suitable for our generation, just as it has happened for past generations. Our parents are not living out the same dreams their parents lived, and we will not do the same. People today are more free spirited, I believe this is causing them to want to travel and get out to experience the world. I know I can agree with that, especially after traveling to Mexico and Spain just a few months ago. The Millennials also do not want someone to tell them how to live their everyday lives. They don’t want the same thing everyday, having some boss tell them what to do over and over again. This is a new generation, and with every new generation there is change.

[S. Robinson]

The American Dream is not dead, it is only adapting to the times just like everything else in life. With every generation--needs change, jobs change, technology changes, and the people change. Yes, the economy seems to be uneasy, but, there is a whole generation that was lost. They are largely not driven, addicted to drugs, into crime, and under-educated. However, times are even changing within this demographic, as their downfalls are taking care of themselves, the up and comers want to have nothing to do with this era and its problems.

The Millennials may seem to savor freedom, but they also want stability. The up and comers have realized that they can have what "The Baby Boomers" have and more. The power of the internet has changed the way people live and that includes obtaining an income, making it possible to make money anywhere in the world at any given time. This does not include home based businesses, which have risen in recent years--people still need basic services.

Basically what this boils down to is that the American Dream has not died but only changed. Adapting and molding to current circumstances. Growing with each generation into what's needed to suit there needs. Forever morphing as time goes on.

[K. Settle]

The American Dream is unique for every person. Dan Kadlec's article, “Millennials Put Their Surprising Stamp on the American Dream" points out the dreams of the different generations in America. The changing standards for Americans today may create the impression that the American Dream is gone, however altered ideals do not equal an end to the dream. The American Dream is still present today, but with our societies progress, we are fortunate to be able to look past the aspirations of our ancestors. Being able to travel and have control of your own job seem much more reachable than retirement- with its issues that plague our parents lives: "Again, this generation has seen the retirement hopes of its parents fade with lackluster investment results and crumbling pensions" (Kadlec). More Millenials say travel is a part of their dream than the ones that say retirement. The dreams of the Millenials prove more reachable as well as allow more choice in what the person really desires. Travel is an important factor to many people and self-employment too. It is more desirable and more stable, thus a very prominent choice considering the increasing control that Americans want in their life. The American Dream is very much alive, continuing to change as time goes by.

[Sandra Castro]

What was surprising about this article to me was the poll regarding what the american dream is to millennials. I have a young sister and I asked her what is her American Dream. I came to realize that she doesn't think much about having security for when she decides to retire. Goals and Priorities do change its part of history of the future as things advance in life that's how goals change and develop. I think that parents have some responsibility on the way there children take the american dream. As for me and my siblings the american dream started the same but through life things change. I for one can tell you that my american dream as a 25 year old is still to get educated, have a good job where one day i can retired from; own a home, travel , have a family. For my 23 year old sister I can tell you that she is already married and she hopes to become a mom and have a job where she can help her husband with all life comes with. I can also tell you that they hope to own a home one day in the future. Now for my youngest sister that is 15 years old. Her dreams are to finish getting educated, own an apartment, and travel. We all started with the american dream because that was what our parents wanted for us because they came to the United States with that dream. I think now our parents just want to see us happy and successful. Life can change and with that change our goals and priorities.

[Kate Waeltz]

In Dan Kadlec’s article “Millennials Put Their Surprising Stamp on the American Dream,” he states that every generation has its own view on what the American Dream is, but the Millennials have transformed it. He states that today people mostly “want to travel and not work slavishly for the man.” In a recent poll though Kadlec points out “38% of Millennials say travel is part of the American Dream, exceeding the 28% who name retirement.” He also explains that homeownership is at a lower rate as well. He explains the reason for this being is what the Millennial have been through.

I believe that the american dream is still alive, but generations have changed, and that forces the american dream to change, and that's ok. I agree with a blogger S. Robinson when they state “Basically what this boils down to is that the American Dream has not died but only changed. Adapting and molding to current circumstances. Growing with each generation into what's needed to suit their needs. Forever morphing as time goes on.” The american dream is still alive it just changes as time goes on. I also agree with another blogger, Sandra when she states “We all started with the american dream because that was what our parents wanted for us because they came to the United States with that dream. I think now our parents just want to see us happy and successful. Life can change and with that change our goals and priorities.” I know my parents just want me to be happy in life, and whatever makes me happy, they know I have succeed in living the life I want. Of course, many will probably disagree on the grounds that the american dream has not changed, and has died. Yet is it necessarily true that it may have changed, but is surely not dead. As stated in the article every generation has its own view on the american dream, and it is continuing to change. Although the american dream may seem of concern to only a small group of people, it should be a concern for everyone. The american dream, and how americans live a happy life is a huge part of today's world. To understand the american dream everyone should be aware of the issue, and we all need to work to understand generations have changed, and so have the dreams. The findings in Dan Kadlec’s articles shed light on many issues that many people in today's society are not aware of, and it is important to become aware and learn to understand what is going on in today's generation.

[Michael Casey]

In response to K. Settle’s argument, I agree that a shift in the trend of what people believe is the American Dream does not mean the death of the American Dream altogether. The dreams of our parents and grandparents are bound to be different than the dreams and aspirations of today’s youth. The times and conditions that they grew up in greatly differ than those that millennials today grow up in. In just the past 20 years the world has changed dramatically, and as the world changes so do the people in it. As Kadlec describes in his article, due to older generations the hopes of retirement security are bleak for millennials and many were directly affected by the crash of the housing market. With the increased economic instability, it makes sense that most of the youth nowadays are not going to rely on such unpredictable institutions to live out their dream, but instead be more self-dependent. Instead of hoping to have a job or hoping to have a good house, younger generations have moved towards wanting experiences over stability, and I believe that is just a mere reflection of the unstable times we live in.

[Lauren Ellis]

Kadlec makes an amazing point, the American dream isn't the same for everyone especially in a day and age where most of the population is in debt from gaining an education alone. This article is not surprising at all to me. Millennials have completely different priorities than generations preceding. As stated in the article they'd rather travel than be tied down by a house like the wicked witch of the east in The Wizard of Oz. Times have drastically changed so the fact that the dreams of younger individuals have changed with it is in no way shocking. Millennials take pride in their day by day mindset. Looking forward to something unrealistic such as the American dream will not help them grow and better themselves, it will only cause them to be disappointed. Therefore I say let them make their own American dream and move past the outdated one of their ancestors.

[Sahar Rizvi]

In Dan Kadlec’s article “Millennials Put Their Surprising Stamp on the American Dream,” he states that every generation has its own view on what the American Dream is, but Millennials are constantly altering and transforming it. I agree with the arguments he makes in his essay, I think that the American dream is still alive but as we go through generations people continue to redefine what it means. The way millennials view the American dream is much more different than the way elders do. Millennials are changing the standards they have for the American dream they do not want to work slavishly and would like to travel. Whereas in the past the American dream would be to own a home, start a family, have a good job, good income but times have changed this stuff is just not as important as it was then. The dream is changing to be more suitable for our generation and we have different goals and dreams we would like to accomplish instead of choosing the more traditional route. I think millennials today are more independent, outgoing, and adventurous. They want to live a life different than their parents, they do not want to have the same schedule every day, and have someone boss them around in a workplace. Nowadays, millennials want to explore the world and search for what is out there. Many will argue that millennials have given up on the American dream, but they have not it has only changed to suit their needs and wants. I think with time the American dream changes into different aspirations and goals, it molds itself to current circumstances. We all have power to decide what the American dream means to us, it is unique to every person and constantly changing with experience. The American dream is still alive today, changing as time goes by.

[Matthew Adams]

The "American Dream" is just that; a dream. It is something that the greater part of society and especially, the major influencers of that society perpetuate. It only begs the question that if we are to have a set number of "criteria", then what is the rubric for which we are measuring said criteria? How is Joe's image of the American Dream similar or different to what Jim's image of that same dream is? The point is that there is no real way to measure or compare what this concept is from one person to the next and it creates a volatile environment for most young Americans. This is because you cannot have conflicting ideologies in the same breath. Just about everyone in this country has had influence and examples from either family or friends of the things they must do and the stuff they must have in their lives to "measure up" or show their value as a person, but has it gotten to a point where these values and hopes and aspirations get swept up into the big umbrella entities like corporations and institutions that love and feed off of this mentality to make a quick buck? Although there are varying views on what comprises the "Dream" for particular individuals, it must also be taken into account how this can affect the lives of the greater majority because of the simple fact of life, which is that there is constant conflict and that fundamentally the notion of peace is also a "dream" that is constantly being strived for yet never quite achieved. The biggest thing about the change of one generations view on the same concept as previous generations is just that; Change. This is why it should not be measured or quantified because it develops an unhealthy expectation of the order of things in a world and a life that does not play by the same rules.