The American Dream and the Law of Jante
Today I will talk about, compare and contrast, and give you my commentary on two cultural norms that, in many ways, have formed the social and political climate in Sweden and the US. This will give you an insight into why Swedes and Americans are the way they are and explain many difficulties one may experience when moving from one of the two countries to the other.
And the two are The Law of Jante in Sweden and the American Dream in the US.
The phrase often characterizes the Jante Law, “You’re not to think you are anything special.” This cultural norm encourages individuals to downplay their accomplishments and not to seek too much attention or success. The Jante Law has been seen as a way to keep society stable by preventing individuals from standing out too much and promoting social cohesion.
In contrast, the American Dream is a cultural ideal emphasizing individualism, ambition, and upward mobility. The phrase often characterizes the American Dream, “You can be anything you want to be.” This cultural ideal encourages individuals to pursue success and upward mobility, regardless of their background or circumstances. The American Dream has been seen as a way to promote social mobility and allow individuals to improve their lives.
Background
Let’s begin by looking at some background, and even though we can trace these norms and unwritten rules to times before when I will start today, I will use the moment in time when the actual terms of the law of Jante and the American dream were first minted. They were both minted in books in the 1930s. Let us start with Sweden.
The Law of Jante is a set of unwritten rules that emphasize humility and discourage individual success and ambition. The origins of the Law of Jante can be traced back to 1933 when the Danish author Aksel Sandemose wrote a novel called “A Fugitive Crosses His Tracks” in which he introduced the concept of Jantelagen, the Law of Jante. In the novel, Sandemose portrayed a small town where the residents were governed by strict, unwritten rules that emphasized humility and discouraged individual success and ambition.
If you are curious and want to learn more about the law of Jante, I made an episode about that back in 2021, and you can find it on my website https://aswedishfika.com/the-law-of-jante/
The American Dream has its roots in the American experience and the idea of upward mobility. The term “American Dream” was first coined by James Truslow Adams in his 1931 book “The Epic of America.” Adams defined the American Dream as “that dream of a land in which life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement.” The idea of the American Dream is rooted in the belief that anyone can achieve success and prosperity through hard work and determination, regardless of their background. It has played a significant role in shaping the country’s history. The belief in the American Dream has been used to justify the country’s westward expansion, the growth of the middle class, and the Civil Rights movement. The American Dream has also been used to justify economic policies that promote upward mobility, such as the New Deal and the Great Society.
So how do these two concepts affect people’s lives in today’s society?
One of the ways the law of Jante influences life in Sweden today is through the way it shapes the country’s social norms and values. The law of Jante can be seen as a way of life in Sweden, which is still prevalent today. The Law of Jante can be seen in how people in Sweden interact, emphasizing humility and a reluctance to stand out or draw attention to oneself. It can also be seen in how people view success and ambition in Sweden, with a cultural expectation that individuals should be content with their station in life and not strive for too much recognition or success.
The law of Jante can be seen in how people in Sweden view individualism and collectivism, with a greater emphasis on the latter. This can be seen in how people in Sweden view success and ambition, with a cultural expectation that individuals should be content with their station in life and not strive for too much recognition or success. This can lead to a lack of ambition and recognition for individual achievements, which can negatively impact one’s sense of self-esteem and fulfillment in life. The law of Jante and its role in politics can lead to a lack of initiative and investment in infrastructure and public services.
OK, so this is where I must disagree with what I just said. I included this last part of the negative impact because this was a common conclusion on every webpage and paper I read to prepare for this episode. I can agree that maybe ambition and recognition when it comes to career are not as important as in the US, it doesn’t necessarily mean that we Swedes are not ambitious and don’t recognize individual achievements, but we might have our focus on other areas of life.
Regarding initiatives and investments in infrastructure and public services, let’s say that I disagree But now, back to what I found in my preparations research.
The American Dream is a cultural ideal that has significantly influenced American culture and society. It is based on the belief that anyone can achieve success and prosperity through hard work and determination, regardless of their background. It has been a fundamental aspect of American culture since its founding and continues to shape how people think and act in the United States today. The American Dream emphasizes the importance of individual success and upward mobility, which can lead to a sense of motivation and drive among individuals. This can be seen in how people view success and ambition in the US, with a cultural expectation that individuals should strive to achieve success and prosperity through hard work and determination. This can lead to a desire to improve one’s career prospects and a drive to achieve success and policies and initiatives to promote upward mobility and economic growth.
The American Dream can lead to higher self-esteem and a sense of accomplishment if individuals achieve the success and prosperity they strive for. However, it can also lead to feelings of disappointment and failure if individuals cannot achieve their desired level of success. The emphasis on individual success and upward mobility can also lead to a lack of emphasis on social welfare and community support.
Let me reflect on what I just said here. I have found that the way the American dream is described online is much more nuanced and, therefore, more accurate. My intention here is not to value the two concepts against each other; both of them have pros and cons; no, my idea is to use these two concepts to explain some of the differences between the two countries, as well as reflect on my own experience moving from the law of Jante to the American dream.
The Jante Law may discourage individuals from standing out too much or pursuing too much success. This can lead to a culture where individuals are less likely to take risks or pursue their dreams. The American Dream may encourage individuals to pursue success and upward mobility, regardless of the risks or challenges involved
However, both the Jante Law and the American Dream have their drawbacks. The Jante Law can discourage individuals from pursuing their dreams and lead to a lack of ambition and innovation. On the other hand, the American Dream can pressure individuals to achieve success and upward mobility at any cost, leading to stress and the feeling of not being enough.
Summary
In conclusion, the Jante Law and the American Dream are two cultural phenomena shaping how individuals in Sweden and the United States view success, ambition, and happiness. The Jante Law emphasizes the importance of humility, collectivism, and conformity, while the American Dream emphasizes the importance of individualism, ambition, and upward mobility. Both cultural norms have their strengths and weaknesses, and it’s important to find a balance between them to achieve a healthy and fulfilling life.
Overall, the Law of Jante and the American Dream represent two very different cultural norms with distinct impacts on individuals, society, and politics. While the Law of Jante can discourage ambition and individual success, the American Dream can inspire individuals to strive for success and upward mobility.
There are some similarities between the Law of Jante and the American Dream; the Law of Jante and the American Dream can create a sense of community and belonging. The Law of Jante emphasizes fitting in with the community and being content with one’s station in life. In contrast, the American Dream emphasizes that anyone can succeed through hard work and determination. Both ideals can create a sense of unity and shared purpose among people as they strive to achieve a common goal.
Another similarity is that both ideals can create a sense of motivation and drive among individuals. The Law of Jante can motivate people to work together and support one another in achieving a common goal. At the same time, the American Dream can inspire people to strive for success and upward mobility. Both ideals can create a sense of purpose and direction for individuals.
My final thoughts and experiences
So my final thoughts, as I already said, for those who try to find information online, there is a more nuanced description of the American Dream, just because there is so much more information to be found about it to be found online.
When it comes to how the cultural norms are affected by these two concepts, I have a very real first-hand experience after moving to the US in my early 40s. I am a product of the law of Jante, and as such, I have difficulty with self-promotion in any way. As the information online suggested, I don’t have low self-esteem or a lack of ambition; my self-esteem comes from being encouraged and recognized in other areas of my life when I was growing up and in my professional life, things that had more to do with activities that benefitted many and not just myself. In most situations, I cannot put myself before others, even when I know it will set me back. This gives me a disadvantage in the professional and entrepreneurial field here in the US. I am slowly learning to balance the two norm systems and am nowadays doing more things to benefit myself, like, for example, this podcast, but I still have a long way to go, and most often, I do it quietly.
I hope you found this episode interesting and helped you understand how we are so different in everyday situations. But I must say that after all this, I still think we are more alike than we are different, and the differences are what make moving or visiting another country is what makes the experience so interesting.
