Meritocracy myth
The "meritocracy myth" refers to the belief that societal success is solely based on individual merit, such as talent, intelligence, and hard work. This concept, initially popularized by sociologist Alan Fox and further examined by Michael Young, suggests that those who excel in various institutions do so purely due to their abilities, while those who do not succeed are often perceived as less capable or diligent. Critics argue that this viewpoint overlooks significant social inequalities that affect opportunities, particularly for racial and ethnic minorities, who may not have the same access to resources and privileges. They contend that factors like familial background and institutional discrimination create barriers that challenge the notion of a level playing field. Moreover, discussions around meritocracy have led to debates on policies such as affirmative action, aimed at fostering more inclusive standards in response to these disparities. Contemporary scholars, including Robert H. Frank and Jeff Fuhrer, continue to investigate the relevance of meritocracy in modern society, highlighting instances that suggest a gap between belief and reality. Overall, the myth of meritocracy raises important questions about fairness, privilege, and the true determinants of success in a diverse society.
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Meritocracy myth
The English industrial sociologist Alan Fox (1920-2002) coined the phrase "the myth of meritocracy" in the 1950s, which was further explored by sociologist Michael Dunlop Young (1915-2002). The myth of meritocracy assumes that those at the pinnacle of society’s institutions have achieved their status solely through merit. Many elites possess meritorious criteria: intelligence, prestigious degrees, and high scores on “objective” tests. Therefore, proponents of meritocracy argue that stratification is the legitimate result of talented, hardworking individuals besting lackluster or lazy ones. Some even argue that those who fail to achieve are either genetically or culturally inferior. Critics of meritocracy ask whether racial and ethnic minorities have an equal chance to compete—that is, whether there is equality of opportunity in the United States. They point out that social circumstances, from the onset of life to its end, are profoundly unequal. Some children are born into families through which they inherit privileges and advantages. Familial advantages are augmented by institutional discrimination, such as in education in the United States. Critics argue that as a myth, or moral fiction, meritocracy justifies racial and ethnic (and class and gender) stratification and masks power and privilege; moreover, opponents submit that the measures of merit (for example, intelligence tests) are culturally biased. One policy question since 1965 (affirmative action) has been debated by those who, opposing the myth, want to implement more inclusive, multicultural standards, and merit fundamentalists who contend that merit is untainted and should prevail as the undiluted justification of status.
Twenty-first-century researchers like Robert H. Frank and Jeff Fuhrer continue exploring the concept’s applicability in modern society. Their published works include The Myth That Made Us: How False Beliefs about Racism and Meritocracy Broke Our Economy (and How to Fix It) (2023) and Success and Luck: Good Fortune and the Myth of Meritocracy (2016). American professor, author, and economist Robert B. Reich noted that, though many Americans still clung to the notion of meritocracy in the first decades of the twenty-first century, evidence to the contrary was abundant—for example, the college admissions scandal in the late 2010s and early 2020s.
Bibliography
Barratt, Will. "Class Myths." Social Class on Campus: Theories and Manifestations. Stylus, 2011, pp. 41–53.
Caliendo, Stephen M. "Affirmative Action." Inequality in America: Race, Poverty, and Fulfilling Democracy's Promise. Westview, 2014.
Fuhrer, Jeff. "The Myth of Meritocracy Runs Deep in American History." MIT Press, 10 Oct. 2023, thereader.mitpress.mit.edu/the-myth-of-meritocracy-runs-deep-in-american-history. Accessed 2 Nov. 2024.
Hammond, Tamara I. How to Avoid a PhD (Penalty for Hardworking Dummies): Debunking the Meritocracy Myth. Telepub LLC., 2023.
Lampert, Khen. Meritocratic Education and Social Worthlessness. Macmillan, 2012.
Lippert-Rasmussen, Kasper. Born Free and Equal?: A Philosophical Inquiry into the Nature of Discrimination. Oxford UP, 2014.
McNamee, Stephen J. The Meritocracy Myth: Who Gets Ahead and Why. 5th ed., Rowman & Littlefield, 2024.
Rowland, Mirabell. "The Myth of Meritocracy: Understanding Its Meaning and Impact." The Justice, 21 Nov. 2023, www.thejustice.org/article/2023/11/the-myth-of-meritocracy. Accessed 2 Nov. 2024.
Sandel, Michael J. "Toppling the Myth of Meritocracy." The Harvard Gazette, 5 Jan. 2021, news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2021/01/the-myth-of-meritocracy-according-to-michael-sandel. Accessed 2 Nov. 2024.