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" The meritocracy myth / "
Stephen J. McNamee and Robert K. Miller, Jr.
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BL
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| Record Number
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990199
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b744569
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| Main Entry
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McNamee, Stephen J.,1950-
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| Title & Author
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The meritocracy myth /\ Stephen J. McNamee and Robert K. Miller, Jr.
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| Publication Statement
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Lanham, Md. :: Rowman & Littlefield,, ©2004.
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| Page. NO
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vii, 219 pages ;; 24 cm
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| ISBN
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0742510557
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: 0742510565
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: 9780742510555
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: 9780742510562
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Includes bibliographical references and index.
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| Contents
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The American dream : myth or reality -- On being made of the right stuff : the case for merit -- The silver spoon : inheritance and the staggered start -- It's not what you know but ... : social and cultural capital -- Making the grade : education and mobility -- Being at the right place at the right time : the luck factor -- I did it my way : self-employment and mobility -- An unlevel playing field : racism and sexism -- Discrimination by any other name : other isms -- Running in place : the long wage recession.
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| Abstract
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This book challenges the widely held American belief in meritocracy_that people get out of the system what they put into it based on individual merit. The book first reviews each of the four components of merit--being talented, having the right attitude, working hard, and having high moral character-in terms of its impact on getting ahead. The book then identifies various non-merit factors that suppress, neutralize, or negate the effects of merit. These non-merit factors include the effects of inheritance as unequal starting points in the race to get ahead, the effects of who you know (social capital) and 'fitting in' (cultural capital), being at the right place at the right time (luck), unequal access to educational opportunities, decline in rates of self-employment and the prospects of being a 'self-made' person, and discrimination on the bases of race, sex, age, sexual orientation, physical disability, region, religion, and physical appearance. To more closely approximate a true meritocracy, societal-level reforms would be necessary. In the meantime, the myth of meritocracy is itself harmful because it unfairly exalts the rich and unfairly condemns poor. -- BACK COVER.
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Equality-- United States.
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Social capital (Sociology)-- United States.
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Social mobility-- United States.
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Capital social (Sociologie)-- États-Unis.
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Inégalité sociale-- États-Unis.
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Mobilité sociale-- États-Unis.
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Equality.
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Social capital (Sociology)
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Social mobility.
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Gleichheit.
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Meritokratie.
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Soziale Mobilität.
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Meritocratie.
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Sociale mobiliteit.
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Sociale ongelijkheid.
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United States.
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USA.
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| Dewey Classification
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305.5/13/0973
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| LC Classification
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HN90.S65M35 2004
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| NLM classification
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71.12bcl
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| Added Entry
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Miller, Robert K.,1948-
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