What does the "American Dream" mean for foreigners today? Does it still represent the same hope for social advancement? Between disillusionment and the realities of the socioeconomic market, immigrant children in the United States have a clear-eyed view of their lives and future.
Beyond the dream: The struggles of immigrant children
In 2022, there were about 46.2 million immigrants in the United States, making up around 13.9% of the population. Nearly 17.6 million children under the age of 18 have at least one immigrant parent. These children, who account for 26% of the 68.6 million children under 18, belong to the second generation of immigrants. They were born and raised in the US.
These young Americans, now adults, see things differently than their parents. For their parents, who were born abroad, moving to the United States was the dream of a lifetime. The famous "American Dream" is based on a simple belief: anyone can succeed, regardless of background, as long as they work hard. This value of hard work is still a part of American culture. It represents the triumph of the "self-made man," who has made it on their own efforts.
However, these young Americans, born to immigrant parents, have not had the same experiences as their parents. Their view of the United States is less influenced by this triumph of meritocracy. What they see are employment discrimination, skyrocketing living costs, exorbitant rents and health insurance fees, and student loans that jeopardize their future. They are wary of the violent clashes of the politicians supposed to support them. Far from the hope inspired by the "American Dream," these Generation Z Americans feel desperate, with some preferring to leave the country.
Should they relocate elsewhere?
Should I leave, or should I stay? This sensitive question divides opinions. Americans find it hard to express their desire to leave. How do they explain to their parents, who sacrificed everything to live in the United States, that they do not share this dream? This difficulty in discussing their distress comes from a gap between immigrant parents and their children. The parents chose the United States for the opportunities and social advancement it offered. They accepted the cost of the American Dream to provide their children with better conditions because this "dream" has a cost: the often-praised hard work is a matter of daily sacrifices made by the parents to secure a future for their children.
It's easier to understand the struggles of immigrant children. They didn't choose to live in the United States but were born there. They didn't face their parents' immigration struggles, but their lives are not necessarily easier. These Americans sometimes feel torn between the vision of the American Dream that still lingers in the collective unconscious and their everyday reality as American citizens.
Those who choose to emigrate join about 3 million Americans living abroad. They leave to preserve their physical and mental health, find jobs that match their qualifications, and enjoy a better quality of life. They talk about their difficulties in the US, especially regarding access to jobs, healthcare, and housing. On social media, young immigrants share tips for emigrating or applying for dual nationality. Unlike their parents, they find it easier to say that there are better countries than the United States.
The American Dream: A changing reality
Which "American Dream" are we talking about? That's the question young people considering emigration are asking. Passed from one speech to another over the years, this term has shifted from its original meaning. In the mouths of Republicans, it is still tied to the value of hard work but against the state and its supposed generosity (social benefits given to the disadvantaged). The Republicans' discourse, becoming more combative in presidential races, excludes and alienates. Ironically, more and more Americans believe they will never achieve the ideal of the American Dream.
Initially, the dream was part of a progressive vision where the state intervened to regulate capitalism. The term "American dream" was coined by writer James Truslow Adams in his novel "The Epic of America," published in 1931, although it appeared in a mattress advertisement in 1930. While experts disagree on the origins of the term, they agree that it originally had a positive view of state intervention. The dream was to escape the Great Depression so everyone could have a better life. Some Democrats are now reclaiming this positive vision of the American Dream.
In reality, this American Dream glosses over the racism and other forms of discrimination that first-generation immigrants had to face. Their children see the United States less as a goal to achieve. This is partly because they were born in the country but also because they are open to other opportunities. They discuss geopolitics, environmental preservation, women's rights, and more.
The American Dream and new realities
Some argue that this devaluation of the "American Dream" reflects a decline in US power. Facing multiple crises, the country no longer reflects the dreams of earlier years. However, others remind us that the American Dream was only achievable for those who could actually reach it until the recent economic crises. They see these emigrations of young immigrants as a way to reclaim their story.
These young Americans leave to find themselves better elsewhere. They know the United States' strengths and weaknesses and understand why the country remains the dream destination for many aspiring emigrants. These young people remain open-minded, knowing that other countries also have their strengths and weaknesses. They don't choose to emigrate on a whim but after thoughtful consideration. They will continue to watch the United States from afar while building their own future abroad.
Source: Beset with 'doomism,' some Gen Z children of immigrants are giving up on the American dream
