Today in the United States much emphasis is placed the value of hard work and what that hard work can get. Everyone, except the very young and the very old, is expected to have a job in order to be a contributing member of our capitalist and materialistic societ. Though our culture values family, women and men that decide to be stay-at-home parents or spouses are viewed as having less value than other working women and me.
Our society also expects Americans to show their contribution to capitalism other way. Displaying ownership or usage of the latest fashions in clothing, technology and entertainment give Americans status and popularity within our culture. Owning the latest video game console or attending the rock concert of the year is a mark of social and economic superiority.
This atmosphere of keeping up with the Jones’ exacerbates the very presence of materialism within our society. Americans have been socialized to desire the attention and status that they receive from their display of wealth. This desire in some cases will even override people’s logical sense of safety, financial security and health. Paying the electric bill or eating healthy foods takes a back seat to buying DVD’s and new clothes. This failing of logic demonstrates the imbalance between the American values of good health and happy family and the American ideal of wealth.
Discussion Questions:
What other American values are contradicted by the American ideal of attaining economic status?
In what other ways is American society influenced by materialism in our culture?
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