Question 1
It is the perception that the American atmosphere allows equal opportunities for all. Therefore, it does not matter whether one is born poor or rich – for as long as they work hard – they are destined to achieve their lifetime desires. Regardless of one’s social class, the American dream gives an opportunity for better life for everyone. However, research comparing the economic mobility of rich countries suggests otherwise. The USA has less average occupational upward mobility than comparable societies such as Spain, Germany, and all European countries except the United Kingdom. It means, therefore, that it is more difficulty for a child born in a poor family in the USA to achieve success compared to the other aforementioned societies. This is the case even though people associate the USA with prosperity, which research establishes this as untrue.
Question 2
The sociological perspective defines a family as a unit/institution of socialization. Among the perspectives that drive such a definition is that a family holds the social values of love, respect, honesty, generosity, Integrity and responsibility. Evidently, these are the same values that the religious right in the country (USA) argues in support. In fact, they are the values that form the pillars of every religious institution in the American society. To the conservatives, however, one could argue that they may not have a strong support to such family values. This is because the conservatives’ principles do not strongly suggest values such as generosity and responsibility are among the important pillars that puts a family together. Instead, individual capitalism defines the ability and the extent of one’s prosperity. Therefore, due to the ideological differences, not all values hold by the conservatives provides support to the values of a family.
