In Lane's work, a concept is proposed to depict a way of life. Habitus is defined as a ritual way of living in a place, where the habitat is the place itself. From this topic derives the thought, how would this be manifest in present day America? With this entry, I would like to assert a notion that the American Dream has manufactured a certain habitus in our country. What began as a movement to achieve equality and equal possibility for success among different groups of people, regardless of social class and stature. Here, a social industry such as the caste system is turned on its head. Essentially, hard work determines success. In this way, the habitus of America has become a self centered and self-promoting society. American-Dreamers claw their way to the top to achieve their idea of enlightenment in wealth.
In America, it became a widely accepted way of life that is obsessed with achievement. Identity relies on occupation and worth is counted in dollar signs. As foreigners come in, the standard is clear-on one hand, there is a wealth of opportunity in America for redemption. No longer do they have to live under the mistakes of their past-they enter a new place in hopes of a resurrected life on the terms of a hopeful reality communicated by the "Land of the Free". However, on the other hand, this works-oriented society is surrounded by invisible gates of discrimination against foreigners and anyone that carries the face similar to a person who has betrayed trust in the past. This habitus of the country contains requisites that are not explicitly stated but are in fine print between the lines of immigration bills. The American Dream is a dream if we accept you. The people of America work hard to reap well, manipulate a sense of education to climb the social spectrum and knock anyone down who is in the way.
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