The American Dream: From the Latino Perspective

Abstract

In this paper, the American Dream is observed from the perspective of Latino immigrants living in the United States. Latinos are currently one of the largest growing minority groups and one of the largest growing populations in the US. We have seen a growth of the Latino population over the years, and although the American Dream was previously something that past generations were able to achieve, this paper will discuss the barriers that most recent generations are facing and how those barriers are affecting the mental health of these individuals. The barriers focused on specifically include legal status, educational access, exclusion, and opportunity. There is also a focus on the perception that Latinos living in other countries may have of the American Dream, especially their optimism of it. In 2016, Pew Research Center conducted a study regarding how Latinos felt about the American Dream. Results from this study indicate that most Latinos believe in the American Dream, in terms of being able to be successful with only hard work and determination. This optimistic perception of the American Dream leads to an immense amount of unrealistic hope for these individuals. This meaning of the American Dream creates a picture that only these two things are needed to achieve success, and individuals are truly passionate about it. However, the barriers in place, especially for Latino immigrants, are not being considered or even discussed more often. The result of these barriers coming to individuals as a surprise, has led to higher rates of mental health disorders, including depression and anxiety, within Latino immigrant communities.