Breaking Down 2 Widely-Accepted Cultural Norms in America

Breaking Down 2 Widely-Accepted Cultural Norms in America

Cultural norms play a significant role in shaping a society, and America is no exception. However, over the years, some of these norms have faced scrutiny, and people have started to question their validity. This article intends to examine two such widely-accepted cultural norms in America and provide insights on why they need to be reevaluated.

1. The ‘Hustle’ Culture

The ‘hustle’ culture is a norm that glorifies overworking, burnout, and sacrifice for success. It frames the idea that one can achieve anything if they work hard enough and never stop hustling. The result? People end up sacrificing their mental and physical health, relationships, and even basic needs like sleep and food in the pursuit of their career goals.

The issue with the ‘hustle’ culture is that its proponents suggest that failures are due to a lack of effort rather than systemic issues, and this misguided perspective can disproportionately affect marginalized communities. For instance, people from disadvantaged backgrounds may already be working hard just to fulfill their basic needs, and the ‘hustle’ culture can create unrealistic expectations. Additionally, the ‘hustle’ culture can perpetuate the notion that one’s worth is tied to their productivity, leading to burnout and mental health issues.

As a society, we need to start reevaluating the ‘hustle’ culture and understand the importance of work-life balance. Instead of glorifying overworking, businesses should encourage their employees to take breaks, prioritize their mental health, and put systems in place to ensure that everyone has a fair shot at success.

2. The ‘Self-Made’ Myth

The ‘self-made’ myth is a cultural norm that glorifies the idea of achieving success through sheer determination and hard work. The myth frames success as something that can be attained purely through individual effort; people who succeed must have done so because of their inherent qualities like intelligence, grit, and talent.

However, the ‘self-made’ myth overlooks the role of privilege, particularly access to resources like education, mentorship, and personal connections that can propel someone towards success. Moreover, this myth perpetuates the idea that those who don’t achieve success purely through determination and hard work have only themselves to blame.

But the truth is that success is often a result of a combination of hard work, opportunity, and privilege. Instead of attributing success solely to individual effort, we need to acknowledge the role of privilege in our society. As a society, we must work towards dismantling systemic barriers that prevent everyone from having equal access to opportunities.

Conclusion

Cultural norms shape our society, and as times change, some norms may become outdated and need to be reevaluated. The ‘hustle’ culture and the ‘self-made’ myth are two widely-accepted norms in America that need to be reevaluated for their impact on individuals and society as a whole. These norms perpetuate a culture of overworking, burnout, and systemic disadvantage, and we need to shift towards a more empathetic and equitable culture that encourages work-life balance and dismantles systemic barriers for all.

Speech tips:

Please note that any statements involving politics will not be approved.