The Meritocracy Myth: Who Gets Ahead and Why

There is a pervasive ideology that claims America is a land of unlimited opportunity, and people get out of the system what they put into it based on talent, attitude, hard work, and character. The Meritocracy Myth: Who Gets Ahead and Why deconstructs this idea by identifying factors that suppress, neutralize, or negate merit-based traits. These include economic inheritance, who you know (social capital) and “fitting in” (cultural capital), being at the right place at the right time, unequal access to educational opportunities, and discrimination based on race, sex, age, sexual orientation, physical disability, religion, and physical appearance. Discussion questions at the end of each chapter encourage students to think critically and develop a deeper understanding of why some people succeed and others fail. New to the Fifth Edition New discussion of national college admission scandal highlights how educational opportunities are mediated by social class (Chapter 5)Revised Chapter 7, “The Luck Factor,” includes discussions of how the COVID-19 pandemic, manufacturing of critical goods in the U.S., and the oversupply of college graduates impact the likelihood of intergenerational mobilityNew discussion on reparations as a way to address inequality for historically discriminated against groups reflects current debates (Chapter 10)New discussion of murders of Black suspects by police, Black Lives Matter, and the Dobbs Supreme Court decision illustrate ongoing patterns of discrimination that impact the prospects of Americans (Chapter 9)

Table of Contents:
Preface to the Fifth Edition Acknowledgments 1 The American Dream: Origins and Prospects Individualism and the Origins of the American Dream Merit and Non-Merit Explanations for Inequality Downsizing the American Dream Plan of the Book References Discussion Questions 2 On Being Made of the Right Stuff: The Case for Merit Innate Talents and Abilities Having the Right Attitude Working Hard or Hardly Working Playing by the Rules A Note on Human Capital The Myth of the Most Qualified Summary References Discussion Questions 3 The Silver Spoon: Inheritance and the Staggered Start Income and Wealth Inequality Intergenerational and Intragenerational Mobility The Cumulative Advantages of Wealth Inheritance What is it Like to Be Rich? Summary References Discussion Questions 4 It’s Not What You Know But . . .: Social and Cultural Capital Social Capital: “Who” You Know Cultural Capital: Fitting In Social Climbing Summary References Discussion Questions 5 Making the Grade: Education and Mobility Functional Views of Education Conflict Views of Education Credential Inflation and the Paper Chase Summary References Discussion Questions 6 I Did It My Way: The Decline of Self-Employment and the Ascent of Corporations Mom and Pop, Where Art Thou? The Decline of Self-Employment Betwixt and Between: The Contradictory Class Position of the Self-Employed Characteristics of the Self-Employed Swimming with the Sharks: The Ascent of the Modern Corporation Summary References Discussion Questions 7 The Luck Factor: Being in the Right Place at the Right Time The Demand Side Creative Destruction All Dressed Up and Nowhere to Go Baby Boomers and Baby Busters The Geography of Economic Inequality Split Labor Markets The Random Walk Hypothesis Lottery Lucky Summary References Discussion Questions 8 Mobility through Marriage: The Cinderella Effect With the Collaboration of Catherine B. McNamee A Brief History of Mate Selection and the Origin of Class Endogamy Mate Selection in Contemporary America Diverging Destinies Summary References Discussion Questions 9 An Unlevel Playing Field: Racism, Sexism, and Other Isms Discrimination: Individual and Institutionalized Racial and Ethnic Discrimination in America Sex Discrimination Other Isms Multiple Jeopardy: A Note on Intersectionality and the Matrix of Domination Summary References Discussion Questions 10 Growing Inequality in the Twenty-First Century: What Can Be Done? Individual Coping Strategies What Can Be Done? Would A Meritocracy Society Be a Fair and Just Society? References Discussion Questions Notes Index About the Author

About the Author :
Stephen J. McNamee is professor emeritus of sociology at the University of North Carolina Wilmington.

Review :
I don’t think there is a competitor that accomplishes what this book does–summarize the sociology of inequality in a clear, interesting, and succinct-yet-thorough fashion. The Meritocracy Myth provides a coherent perspective on the world. Many textbooks are a long mishmash of theories and facts; this one has a compelling message and point of view. The Meritocracy Myth allows me to explain how categories of difference are constructed, how they are translated into inequalities, and how inequalities are maintained as mechanisms of oppression, privilege, exploitation, and exclusion. It is engaging, rendering complex theories and concepts digestible. The Meritocracy Myth is detailed, comprehensive, and relevant. Like social life, it is complex.McNamee's writing style is very accessible, well written, and engaging for university students. The book's arguments are very well organized and developed and revealing of the effects of inequalities of opportunity on inequalities of social rewards. The Meritocracy Myth is very student friendly and engages students with real-life and relevant examples. McNamee’s writing style, which is always accessible and straightforward, is effective in exploring a fundamental concept in sociology -- the myth of the US as a merit-based system. This book captures students' attention and gives them confidence to want to learn more. The Meritocracy Myth should be read by all sociology students, and I can’t wait to share this with my own students and colleagues! We are bombarded with the message that if you work hard you will succeed. The Meritocracy Myth deftly unpacks this message, helping readers understand the processes at work that challenge this thinking, while conveying key sociological concepts for students. This is a powerful book that deepens our understanding of the ways in which the playing field is not even, how this is underscored in every facet of daily life, and how non-merit factors have a significant bearing on life chances. This is an excellent resource for any undergraduate or graduate course that seeks to understand social processes at work. The Meritocracy Myth is a must-read for everyone who dreams of a more equitable society. There’s no book more valuable for debunking our national delusions of self-made success; there's no other resource that unpacks unfair inequalities in the US as comprehensively and three-dimensionally. Earlier editions inspired my students to think logically and ethically. I'm confident that the fifth edition, with its chapter-opening anecdotes and chapter-closing discussion questions, will encourage even deeper reflection. Stephen McNamee’s book, The Meritocracy Myth: Who Gets Ahead and Why, Fifth Edition is an update of a sociology classic. McNamee’s primary argument is that the meritocracy myth does not fully explain the success or failure of individuals in U.S. society. He challenges this ideology of unlimited opportunity by illustrating the many non-merit factors at play that create barriers to individual social mobility, but, at the same time, also have consolidated the wealth, power, and privilege of the few. In so doing, McNamee shifts our understanding of inequality from the individual level to address inequities in the social structure. This volume is an excellent text for introductory to advanced sociology courses, or for anyone wanting to better understand U.S. culture and social inequality. McNamee’s writing is accessible, and he takes time to define critical terms. I also find the book teaching friendly in that there are vignettes in each section that help to illustrate the concepts and discussion questions at the end of the chapter. McNamee provides an informative and accessible introduction to the meaning and experiences of US inequality and its multiple forms. In presenting challenges to the very idea of meritocracy and the American dream he makes clear the systemic roots of inequality in the country wrought with privilege and unequal opportunity structures affecting mobility. Given the increasingly widening inequality gap in the United States and around the world, McNamee's contributions are as important now more than ever. The Meritocracy Myth is a tried-and-true textbook. Students appreciate its engaging writing style and clear explanation of sociological concepts. The revised edition incorporates relevant evidence from a wide range of literature on inequality and mobility.