The significance of social cleavages in Britain and why I still believe in the American Dream

My Impressions...

The traditional determinants of social identity in Britain have always been class, gender and race – and I’m sure every reader will know which group has continually dominated the political, economical and military elites. Although these statistics are starting to balance out, the main political and Civil Service positions are still mostly held by white, middle class males – and much can be said of The City too.  The stereotypical white, middle class male is still the dominant image on the streets of the City of London where I work. As the complete antithesis of this stereotype, I can’t help but wonder how much my path to success in this city will be determined by my background, and how much will be determined by my ability.

Class...

Britain has always been seen as a country with a strong hierarchical structure and class system - a class system which heavily restricted how an individual lived and what they could achieve in society. This class structure remained unchanged for hundreds of years until the post-second world war era bought in a new age of production and an increase in non-manual jobs. The number of people working in non-manual labour has steadily risen from 25% of the population in the 1950s to over 50% of the population today.

While Britain is imagined by most to be a society in which it is now possible for people to work hard and better themselves, there remains a very obvious problem with an underclass who are stuck in a cycle of deprivation. Having learnt from their parents that education and work are worthless, this underclass instead resorts to crime or benefits for income. It is very easy to say that they are held back by their own poor attitudes and lack of desire to work hard and improve themselves rather than their class, but I do not believe that it is that simple. If you are not given hope, encouragement, opportunity and access to good education and motivation, it must surely be impossible to build it up on your own.

Race...

Race was never a predominant issue in Britain until the 1950s when Commonwealth immigration began. To begin with, overt racism was rife and considerably more acceptable than it is today. This was not helped by the fact that ethnic minorities were dependent on Britain for jobs and held a very weak political position. According to the British Social Attitudes Survey, 7.9% of the British population are now from an ethnic minority, and this rise in immigration from the days when Britain was almost exclusively white, has led to the issue racial discrimination becoming much more prominent. Ethnic minorities have statistically done worse in terms of education, jobs and housing, and it is very significant that the employment rate for blacks and Asians is only 57% compared to that of 75% for white people. There has been a clear condemnation and decline in overt racism in Britain over the last few years, but statistics such as these show that there is sill a huge problem that needs to be addressed. Ethnic minorities and immigrants are often the hardest working people in society because they have ventured to Britain to make a better life for themselves. However, from what I have seen, I worry that it is only those who have ‘Westernised’ themselves enough who are really able to make it to where they want to be in society.

Gender...

Until the 1970s, hardly any women worked, but as more and more women continue to join the workforce, the cleavage of gender appears to have become more apparent in society as women demand better equality. Around 70% of women now work, and the overall workforce is almost 50% female, a far cry from the statistics of the post-war era. Although women are now much more likely to work and hold senior positions than ever before, many believe that women limit their own opportunities by choosing a domestic and family life over a career in the public sphere. Though this may be true, this choice is understandable in a society which traditionally has encouraged women to put their domestic responsibilities first.

At every Cabinet reshuffle you will hear the old outcry about the lack of female representation in the higher echelons of politics. Certainly, it is uninspiring to know that we have only ever had one female Prime Minister, but again, I can’t help but point out that Margaret Thatcher was a woman who embodied all the toughness and relentless characteristics more associated with male behaviour. A successful role in politics demands long hours and the ability to manage oneself in a demanding and aggressive environment – something that most women are either unwilling or not naturally comfortable in doing.

           

The American Dream...

While the dominance of white, middle class males in the top professions and at the top levels of society is not as prominent as it was 60 years ago, there is still a lot of evidence to show that certain groups still get the better opportunities in life. But how much is it a question of choice?

I have always believed in the ideology of the American Dream. But then, maybe it’s because I have to.

According to the American Dream, “life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement”. Essentially, the idea is that if you work hard, you will fulfill your capacity to achieve. At school, I was very much brought up to believe in this ideology. My hard work directly correlated into good results - life and success was simple and logical, and I liked it. But this isn’t how the real world works. Once I left the rigid structure of being graded A, B or C, I realised that hard work wasn’t always enough, there are other games that have to be played. It has been a tough lesson, but it hasn’t eroded my lifelong belief that personal circumstances will never hold me back. My path to success will be harder, certainly, but I believe the only antidote to failure is to keep working hard no matter what society throws at you and no matter what prejudices stand in your way. Ultimately, I can either believe that society controls the limits of my ability or I can believe that I have the power to control my own destiny and success. I know which I choose.