Dreams of a Lifetime: How Who We Are Shapes How We Imagine Our Future

Our social status influences our dreams and aspirations, shaping the lives we envision for ourselves. Cerulo and Ruane's book "Dreams of a Lifetime" explores how social disadvantages pattern our dreams and exacerbate social inequalities, providing new avenues for understanding and combating inequality.

Format: Hardback
Length: 280 pages
Publication date: 21 June 2022
Publisher: Princeton University Press

The impact of social status on our aspirations and the lives we envision for ourselves is a complex and multifaceted phenomenon. While we acknowledge that a person's social position can limit opportunities, we often hold onto the belief that anything is possible when it comes to our dreams. However, Dreams of a Lifetime, a groundbreaking book by Karen Cerulo and Janet Ruane, reveals that our social location profoundly influences the nature and extent of our dreams, as well as our belief in their potential realization.

According to Cerulo and Ruane, our social location shapes the seemingly private and unique world of our minds. It imbues our thoughts and perceptions with a particular lens, influencing the types of dreams we have and the way we interpret them. Whether we embrace dreaming or dismiss it as a mere fantasy, our social position plays a significant role in shaping our dreams and their potential outcomes.

The authors argue that our social position ingrains itself on our minds' eye, quietly influencing the nature of our dreams. They explore how inequalities stemming from social disadvantages pattern our dreams for ourselves, exacerbating social inequalities and limiting the life paths we believe are open to us. Through a wealth of original interviews with people from diverse social backgrounds, Dreams of a Lifetime demonstrates how the study of our dreams can provide new avenues for understanding and combating inequality, including inequalities that precede action or outcome.

One of the key insights of the book is that not all dreamers are equal. Cerulo and Ruane highlight how social disadvantages, such as poverty, discrimination, and limited access to resources, can shape the dreams and aspirations of individuals. They show how these inequalities can limit our ability to envision a future that aligns with our values and goals, perpetuating a cycle of disadvantage and limited opportunities.

Furthermore, the authors argue that sociocultural disparities in how we dream exacerbate social inequalities and limit the life paths we believe are open to us. They note that different cultures and societies.

Dimension: 216 x 140 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780691229096