The Problem with the Bootstrap Mentality
Your life doesn’t have to be endless hard work.
From a young age, Americans are told to man up, dream big, and work hard. With this magic formula, success will come our way. The flip side is that if we don’t work hard, we’ll fall hard — and that means that any failure is due to personal choice.
This attitude conveniently forgets the systemic problems and dumb luck that drive much of our experience. Here are some ways in which pulling yourself up the bootstraps is glamorized, yet harms our overall development and success.
Financial Health
Few myths are as damaging to Americans’ lives as the belief that hard work simply lifts one out of poverty. This attitude stems from the Just World Hypothesis, which holds that the world is basically right and good people are rewarded. Therefore, people who have had bad things happen to them must have done something to cause or deserve it. It’s an appealing idea because it allows people to shift the blame to the victim rather than admit that a system that benefits them might be unethical or broken. Or, it allows them to avoid uncomfortable feelings of pity and instead resort to judgment.
