Excessive Profits

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert Wuthnow
Keyword(s):  
American Dream ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Ordinary People ◽  
Economic Crises

This chapter discusses how the wealthy provided a contrasting category—an “other”—that offered ordinary, nonwealthy Americans ways to think about who we were by discussing who we were not. The wealthy had what everyone else presumably wanted: money, power, lavish homes, the wherewithal to live in luxury. They could be the standard to which ordinary people aspired, the best evidence that the American Dream could be attained. However, popular discussions frequently set them apart negatively. Their wealth and power seemed excessive, undemocratic, perhaps immoral, and at times harmful to the well-being of society. Criticism increased during economic crises and when concentrated wealth seemed to be accumulating at everyone else's expense. Critics said the wealthy were greedy, shallow, unfair, manipulative, perhaps guilty of fraud, and on occasion guilty of profiteering. The criticisms also reflected ideals to which ordinary people were expected to adhere.

scholarly journals Social well-being of converted Muslims in different countries of the world

2016 ◽  
Vol 1 (19) ◽  
pp. 171-173
Author(s):  
Olga Maksymenko
Keyword(s):  
Human Life ◽  
Negative Attitude ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Islamic State ◽  
New Wave ◽  
Life Changes ◽  
Ordinary People ◽  
Way Of Life ◽  
The World ◽  
Hostile Attitude

The tendency to intensify Islamophobia in its various manifestations, from the hostile attitude towards the Muslims to open acts of aggression and calls for hatred and violence against the representatives of this religion - unfortunately, has recently been observed in many countries of the world. Some factors contribute to this: firstly, the inspiration by some unscrupulous media of identifying Muslims with terrorists and extremists, a new wave of fear, caused by reports of numerous crimes by militants of the self-proclaimed "Islamic State" (whose activities generally contradict the spirit of Islam as a peaceful and humanistic religion that recognizes human life of the highest value and equates the killing of one person to the murder of all mankind) and recent attacks with a large number of human victims (in particular, in France and Belgium); and secondly, the reluctance of ordinary people to see in their environment those who differ from them (rejection of "someone else", due to the imaginary division of the world into "we" and "they"). Bearers of another culture are perceived as a threat of violations of the usual way of life, changes in the established system of values. Hence, the sharply negative attitude towards refugees from Syria and other Islamic countries.

Can We Save the Dream?

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carol Graham
Keyword(s):  
Income Tax ◽  
Positive Attitude ◽  
American Dream ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Earned Income ◽  
Subsequent Performance ◽  
Moving To Opportunity ◽  
Success Stories ◽  
The Poor ◽  
Negative Beliefs

This chapter offers some modest suggestions for policies that might begin to revive the fragile American Dream. It also highlights the role that well-being metrics and markers can play in identifying negative beliefs and behaviors before they result in the kinds of desperate outcomes that are described in the book, such as rising mortality rates. It argues that the American Dream is clearly tattered. However, there are signs of hope, and we must find more. Some are in the success stories of programs that seem to work, such as Moving to Opportunity and the earned income tax credit program. Some are in new experiments that show that very simple interventions that provide hope, such as the provision of a modest asset or simply affirmation and a more positive attitude, can make a difference to the subsequent performance of the poor or destitute.

What Went Wrong with the American Dream?

2020 ◽  
pp. 3-18
Author(s):  
Maxine Eichner
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
United States ◽  
Academic Achievement ◽  
Life Expectancy ◽  
American Dream ◽  
Well Being ◽  
The United States ◽  
Family Ties ◽  
American Children ◽  
Deaths Of Despair

This chapter considers a number of indicators relating to the well-being of American children and adults in order to examine the extent to which the American Dream is fulfilling its promise. For children, it considers levels of happiness, academic achievement, mental health, and economic mobility. For adults, it considers happiness, mental health, and life expectancy (including the rise of “deaths of despair”). All these indicators show that the United States is failing radically with respect to both children’s and adults’ well-being. These results are not surprising, the last section of the chapter shows, when we take into account the health of the nation’s families. Neither adults nor children can thrive without sound family ties. Yet indicators show that American families are in bad shape, and in considerably worse shape than families in other countries.

Promoting Children's Well-being: Policy Lessons from Past and Present Economic Crises

2011 ◽  
Vol 29 (5) ◽  
pp. 621-641 ◽  
Author(s):  
Caroline Harper ◽  
Nicola Jones ◽  
Paola Pereznieto ◽  
Andy McKay
Keyword(s):  
Well Being ◽  
Economic Crises

‘Ordinary People Come through Here’: Locating the Beauty Salon in Women's Lives

2002 ◽  
Vol 71 (1) ◽  
pp. 2-17 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paula Black
Keyword(s):  
Gender Identity ◽  
Leisure Activities ◽  
Well Being ◽  
The Self ◽  
Ordinary People ◽  
Employment Practices ◽  
Beauty Salon ◽  
Women's Lives ◽  
Body Practices ◽  
Health And Well Being

Beauty therapy is part of a vast multi-national, multi-million pound beauty industry. The beauty salon lies at the heart of a complex set of discourses and practices. Research conducted in the salon sheds light upon a number of key sociological debates including; issues of health and well-being; gendered employment practices; the construction and maintenance of gender identity and sexuality; body practices; and leisure activities. In this sense the salon may be used as a microcosm in which to investigate wider sociological concerns. In this paper, I will draw upon the testimonies of beauty salon clients, and beauty therapists. I describe four areas of treatment: pampering; routine grooming; health treatments; and corrective treatments. These areas are investigated in depth and related to different spheres in the woman's life. In particular, I show how the beauty salon is drawn upon in helping to negotiate the balance between these competing arenas. The ambivalences of achieving an ‘appropriate’ appearance in these differing spheres is investigated. Their implication in the self-surveillance of the client is also discussed.

scholarly journals Economic Crises as a Motive for Change in Health Care Systems – A Historical Perspective with Reference to the COVID-19 Pandemic

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
pp. 355-374
Author(s):  
Snježana Kaštelan ◽  
Martina Sopta ◽  
Milena Radonjić ◽  
Uršula Kaštelan ◽  
Boris Kasun
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health Care Systems ◽  
Economic Recession ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Healthcare Systems ◽  
Economic Crises ◽  
Social Equality ◽  
Social Reforms ◽  
Care Systems ◽  
Potential Damage

Economic crises throughout history have often given an impetus for health and social reforms leading to the introduction of general healthcare systems and social equality in a large number of countries. The aim of this paper is to present the major economic crises and their effect on healthcare and social system chronologically. Bismarck’s and Beveridge’s model, the two most prominent healthcare models, which emerged primarily as a response to major economic crises, constitute the basis for the functioning of most health care systems in the world. An overview of historical events and experiences may be valuable in predicting future developments and potential effects of the crisis on healthcare systems and health in general. An analysis of past crises as well as current health and economic crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and their impact on the healthcare system can facilitate the comprehension of the mechanisms of action and consequences of economic recession. It may also help identify guidelines and changes that might reduce the potential damage caused by future crises. The historical examples presented show that a crisis could trigger changes, which, in theiressence, are not necessarily negative. The response of society as a whole determines the direction of these changes, and it is up to society to transform the negative circumstances brought about by the recession into activities that contribute to general well-being and progress.

scholarly journals People Are Not Users

2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 163-183
Author(s):  
Tamara Hale
Keyword(s):  
Positive Impact ◽  
Service Design ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Ordinary People ◽  
Ethnographic Methods ◽  
Digital Products ◽  
Specific Product ◽  
Human Interactions ◽  
Technology Industry ◽  
Whole Systems

Ethnographic methods have filtered from academia to product development, particularly in the technology industry, and into the broader ‘human-centered’ design practice. In the process, the ethnographic influence has entered the toolkits of other practitioners. This article argues that, despite an overall positive impact, the implementation of ethnographic methods has had less of an impact on the tendency to think of people primarily in relation to a specific product or service as “users”, “customers” or “clients”, which results in both a simplistic and individualistic view of human experiences. I argue that there is untapped potential in our discipline’s holistic thinking as applied to our work outside of academia. One existing avenue that lends itself to translating holism into design is service design, a field of practice that shifts the focus from the design of one-off solutions (material products, digital products and others) to the design of a system of products, interactions and processes intended to serve ordinary people, often with the objective of improving their lives and well-being. These services can encompass, but are not limited to any one, digital interactions, physical products, communication materials or human interactions, and address the behind-the-scenes organizational change that must occur to support the creation and maintenance of services focused on people. Anthropologists can bring a special perspective to service design through their attention to understanding whole systems and, in the process, can counteract the individualism inherent in some design practices and corporate frameworks. The examples used here reflect my own experiences as the anthropologist informing service design projects. 

scholarly journals Study on the Changing Connotation of the American Dream in Death of a Salesman

2021 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. p56
Author(s):  
Shuaiqi Chen
Keyword(s):  
Twentieth Century ◽  
American Dream ◽  
Great Influence ◽  
Revolutionary War ◽  
Ordinary People ◽  
Arthur Miller ◽  
Death Of A Salesman

Arthur Miller is considered one of the greatest American playwrights of the twentieth century. His masterpiece—Death of a Salesman—tells a tragic story about an ordinary American and chronicles the changing connotation of the American dream. The American dream originates from the puritan spirit, develops in the Revolutionary war and distorts as society changed. The essay attempts to reveal the changing connotation of the American dream reflected in this play by analyzing the representative character portrayed by Miller. On the basis of a better understanding of the play, the great influence of values in different time, such as the American dream, on ordinary people are expected to be learned.

Who Believes in the American Dream?

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carol Graham
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Survey Data ◽  
American Dream ◽  
Well Being ◽  
The United States ◽  
The Poor ◽  
Future Success ◽  
The Rich ◽  
The Relationship

This chapter goes on to ask who still believes in the American Dream. It begins with a review of what we know about the relationship between inequality, well-being, and attitudes about future mobility. It summarizes what we know from survey data on attitudes about inequality and opportunity in the United States, and then places those attitudes in the context of those in other countries and regions, based on new data and analysis with a focus on individuals' beliefs in the role of hard work in future success. Evidence suggests that the American Dream is very unevenly shared across socioeconomic cohorts. The poor and the rich in the United States lead very different lives, with the former having a much harder time looking beyond day-to-day struggles and associated high levels of stress, while the latter is able to pursue much better futures for themselves and their children, with the gaps between the two likely to increase even more in the future.

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