43 upvotes, 1 direct replies (showing 1)
I guess my issue with this argument is that it implies that caring about your "downward social mobility" or perceived "loss of status" are just unreasonable things onto themselves and not because, in the case of young Korean men or perhaps working class white people in America, it leads to a reactionary backlash to minorities and women.
I saw this similar response when some of the first exit polls came out of this past US presidential election where people noted that the majority of voters living in poverty (based on the federal poverty level) voted for Kamala and this proved that any critique of Kamala's policies for helping struggling Americans were null and void. But, this ignored that Trump won the next two income groups (30,000-99,000) and that's the plurality of Americans who vote (48%). And, like it or not you can (and many people are) struggling just making 40,000 or 50,000 dollars a year and yes part of that struggle is worrying that they won't be able to provide their families the quality of life that they had growing up.
Obviously, I don't think Trump will do that for them. And, I also clearly don't think blaming women, minorities, immigrants will help anyone in the States or in South Korea. But, I just can't anymore with these studies that allow people to just affirm their priors and say "Welp they're just sexist (or racist). Their concerns are invalid".
Comment by AoiK1tsune at 21/01/2025 at 03:12 UTC
18 upvotes, 0 direct replies
I think the problem is that those who are struggling (and those who are successful) believe in the lie that "if they work hard, they will be successful." If you believe in that, then obviously the reason you aren't successful is because these "other" people are cheating.... or so it would seem. It's called the American dream because you have to be asleep to believe it.