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Rejecting the American Dream

Men Creating Alternative Life Goals

Loyola Marymount University

This article uses ethnographic research to explore the dynamics of belief, morality, and life change within the mythopoetic men's movement. Examining the creation of local meaning within this context shows that its members have developed a significant criticism of the material values and work ethic connected to what has been called the American Dream. They are generally upper and upper middle-class white men who have come out ahead in the economic competition and yet have found it emotionally damaging and unfulfilling for themselves and their wives, children, and others in their lives. As a result, they take significant steps to change their lives, deprioritizing work and economic success in favor of emotional values and spiritual well-being. The analysis synthesizes ethnography with cultural sociology to explore this curious critique of modern culture and the corresponding efforts at microlevel social change.

Key Words: mythopoetic • men's movement • men's groups • ethnography • cultural sociology

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