Tag: RacialDisparities

Americans Are Split Over The State Of The American Dream

Staff ReporterUSA 0

“The American dream” is a century-old phrase used to describe the idea that anyone can achieve success in the United States through hard work and determination. Today, about half of Americans (53%) say that dream is still possible.

How we did this

Americans Are Split Over The State Of The American Dream1

Another 41% say the American dream was once possible for people to achieve – but is not anymore. And 6% say it was never possible, according to a recent Pew Research Center survey of 8,709 U.S. adults.

While this is the first time the Center has asked about the American dream in this way, other surveys have long found that sizable shares of Americans are skeptical about the future of the American dream.

Who believes the American dream is still possible?

There are relatively modest differences in views of the American dream by race and ethnicity, partisanship, and education. But there are wider divides by age and income.

Age

Americans ages 50 and older are more likely than younger adults to say the American dream is still possible. About two-thirds of adults ages 65 and older (68%) say this, as do 61% of those 50 to 64.

By comparison, only about four-in-ten adults under 50 (42%) say it’s still possible for people to achieve the AmericanAmericans Are Split Over The State Of The American Dream2 dream.

Income

Higher-income Americans are also more likely than others to say the American dream is still achievable.

While 64% of upper-income Americans say the American dream still exists, 39% of lower-income Americans say the same – a gap of 25 percentage points.

Middle-income Americans fall in between, with a 56% majority saying the American dream is still possible.

Race and ethnicity

Roughly half of Americans in each racial and ethnic group say the American dream remains possible. And while relatively few Americans – just 6% overall – say that the American dream was never possible, Black Americans are about twice as likely as those in other groups to say this (11%).

Partisanship

While 56% of Republicans and Republican leaners say the American dream is still possible to achieve, 50% of Democrats and Democratic leaners say the same.

Education

A 57% majority of adults with a bachelor’s degree or more education say the American dream remains possible, compared with 50% of those with less education.

Age and income differences within both parties

Americans Are Split Over The State Of The American Dream 3Age and income differences in views of the American dream persist within each political party.

Age

Clear majorities of both Republicans (64%) and Democrats (67%) ages 50 and older say achieving the American dream is still possible.

In contrast, just 38% of Democrats under 50 and 48% of Republicans under 50 view the American dream as still possible.

Income

In both parties, upper-income Americans are about 25 points more likely than lower-income Americans to say it is still possible for people to achieve the American dream.

Do people think they can achieve the American dream?

Americans are also divided over whether they think they personally can achieve the American dream. About three-in-ten (31%) say they’ve achieved it, while a slightly larger share (36%) say they are on their way to achieving it. Another 30% say it’s out of reach for them. These views are nearly identical to when the Center last asked this question in 2022.

Race and ethnicityAmericans Are Split Over The State Of The American Dream4

White adults (39%) are more likely than Black (15%) and Hispanic adults (19%), and about as likely as Asian adults (34%), to say they have already achieved the American dream.

Black (48%), Hispanic (47%) and Asian adults (46%) are more likely than White adults (29%) to say they are on their way to achieving it.

Party

Republicans are more likely than Democrats to say they have achieved the American dream (38% vs. 28%). But Democrats are somewhat more likely than Republicans to say they’re on the way to achieving it (38% vs. 34%). Democrats are also more likely than Republicans to view the American dream as personally out of reach.

Income and age

Older and higher-income Americans are more likely than younger and less wealthy Americans to say they have achieved or are within reach of the American dream. These patterns are similar to those for views about the American dream more generally.

Healthcare Disparities in America: Inequalities Persist Across Every Dimension of Access and Outcomes

Staff ReporterHealth 0

Over the past nine weeks, we’ve delved into the crucial issues defining healthcare, revealing a stark reality: healthcare in America is riddled with inequalities, and these disparities may worsen in the future.

Throughout our exploration, one resounding theme persists: disparities pervade every aspect of healthcare access and outcomes. Samantha Artiga, from the Racial Equity and Health Policy Program at KFF, emphasizes, “It’s not only inequities in access to the system, but then also differential experiences even within the system.” This inequality spans a lifetime, affecting health outcomes “from the beginning of life to end of life.”

The disparities are multifaceted. They extend beyond simple demographic categories, affecting people differently based on various dimensions of their identities. Artiga notes, “People have multiple identities and don’t fit into one single box, so their experiences are going to be shaped by who they are based on multiple different dimensions.”

Insurance coverage is a critical issue exacerbating these disparities. As highlighted by a recent JAMA Internal Medicine study, low-income individuals with private insurance disproportionately allocate a larger share of their budget to healthcare costs compared to their higher-income counterparts. Furthermore, disparities in insurance coverage directly impact hospital care, influencing facilities’ financial health and their ability to serve diverse patient populations. Hospitals serving more Medicare, Medicaid, and uninsured patients often struggle financially, leading to closures or reduced services, perpetuating healthcare inequalities.

Racial segregation in hospitals mirrors residential segregation patterns, contributing to disparate health outcomes among Medicare beneficiaries of different racial backgrounds. The implications are significant: where one seeks care can determine health outcomes, illustrating the systemic inequalities embedded within the healthcare landscape.

Access to prescription drugs also underscores these disparities, particularly in clinical trials where people of color are underrepresented. This gap extends to market access, where new medical advancements and treatments are often more accessible to those with comprehensive insurance coverage, leaving Medicaid recipients and small businesses at a disadvantage.

Geographic and socioeconomic factors further compound disparities in healthcare access. Rural communities often lack adequate healthcare facilities, forcing residents to travel long distances for essential medical services. Meanwhile, aging populations, especially lower-income seniors, face higher rates of disabilities and shorter life expectancies, despite Medicare coverage.

Mental health and addiction treatment highlight additional disparities. White individuals with mental illnesses are more likely to receive treatment compared to their Black, Hispanic, or Asian counterparts. Similarly, the opioid crisis has disproportionately affected American Indian, Alaska Native, and Black communities, exacerbating disparities in addiction treatment and criminal justice involvement.

Workforce shortages exacerbate these challenges, creating unequal access to care. Concierge practices, catering to affluent patients, highlight a growing trend where those with financial means bypass waiting times and access superior care, further entrenching a two-tier healthcare system.

Advancements in medical technology, such as precision medicine and AI algorithms, hold promise for personalized care but risk widening disparities if not implemented equitably. Concerns persist that without effective policy interventions, these innovations could primarily benefit affluent populations, exacerbating existing healthcare inequalities.

Ultimately, these disparities manifest concretely in life expectancy variations across demographic groups defined by race, income, education, and occupation. These metrics underscore the profound impact of social determinants on health outcomes, reflecting broader structural inequities embedded within American society.

In conclusion, while discussions often focus on healthcare access and experiences within the system, the determinants of health extend far beyond clinical settings. Factors such as location, access to nutritious food, transportation, and employment all shape health outcomes. These underlying structural inequities must be addressed comprehensively to achieve meaningful progress toward a more equitable healthcare system.

As Samantha Artiga aptly summarizes, “People’s health is shaped by so many factors that sit outside the health care system and play such a large role. All those factors are influenced by underlying structural inequities.” Addressing these inequities is not just a matter of healthcare policy but requires a broader societal commitment to equity and justice in all facets of life.

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