Great Gatsby & the Roaring Twenties: Question 2

The caption to the article reads: “Sorting people by ‘merit’ will do nothing to fix inequality.”

The author of this editorial wonders how masculinity and gender can be redefined to include less outdated and toxic expressions of male identity.

Explores what the current border fight and Trump’s wall reveals about older myths of the American “wild west” and frontier.

Coaston recounts the history of and political associations with the word
“intersectionality."

A short article about a photography exhibition illustrating the lives of wealthy Americans over a 25 year time period.

A short opinion piece about the difference between the way public and private schools handle illegal drug offenses.

This article asserts that “By talking plainly about her qualifications, Harris embodies progress,” but questions if the country will accept an unapologetically ambitious and accomplished woman.

Gay considers the history and the future of the #MeToo Movement, a movement that
seeks to shed light on and end the sexual harassment of women.

Teen boys are asked about their definitions of masculinity.

A few recent scholars, elaborating on how thoroughly Gatsby tries to erase his true origin as James Gatz, suggest that he may have been of Jewish or African descent, thus positioning Gatsby’s tale as a way to learn more about the American phenomenon of “passing” as white. This article serves as an introduction to Jewish “white-passing,” while the articles in the adjacent comment are more in-depth.

Offers an accessible and detailed introduction to the 2019 college admissions scandal.

This long-format article ties a rising culture of marital infidelity to the simultaneous shift from Communism to the growth of consumerist culture in Russia.

Written in the wake of the college-admissions scandal of 2019, “A look at some of the many ways that affluent applicants have an edge -- without bribery.”

This opinion piece critiques the “helicopter” parenting style (a highly involved form of parenting), drawing on examples from the 2019 college admissions scandal.

An article about how the shutdowns from the covid pandemic have exposed and worsened gender-based inequality for women.

In this transcript of an Assembly speech at Menlo, alum Lopez ‘12 draws on his personal experience and challenges the Menlo community to see the ways in which Menlo is neither a meritocracy nor welcoming to students of color. [Also see Mr. Schafer’s written response to the speech.

News article from the beginning of the college admissions scandal, featuring excellent background information and lots of other sources you can click on.

In-depth report on findings from a 2018 poll about the experience of gender norms for girls and boys, aged 10-19, including many personal anecdotes from the subjects.

This 39-minute episode of the weekly podcast discusses the challenges of bringing about societal change. Includes links to two news articles.

An article about how “The scandal could break down misconceptions about money, merit, and status.”

This video infographic shows what people believe about the distribution of wealth versus the reality.

This short piece documents new trends in ultra-wealthy inheritors seeking to both increase their wealth and achieve charitable goals.

Author of "The Dream Hoarders: How the American Upper-Middle Class is Leaving Everyone in the Dust," challenges the extent to which America is an equal-opportunity meritocracy.

Examines the recent trend of college women who use specialized online dating sites to find wealthy older men.

This long-format essay reviews how different thinkers have questioned the nature of equality, and explores what implications this has for societies that, like America, value equality on some level.

Author Sales investigates how a growing number of young people are selling their bodies online.

In this excerpt from Sandel’s book, the author argues that the idea of America as a meritocracy is “self-deluding” and “promotes divisiveness.”

Mr. Schafer responds to the Assembly speech given by Antonio Lopez [also included in the Project Sources] and a follow-up assembly where students of color addressed the community, offering his own perspective on equal opportunity in education and beyond.

“In this extract from her new book, Rachel Sherman sets out to understand how wealthy parents decide to spend their money – and enters a tortuous world of moral conflict and self-doubt.”

In this Opinion-Editorial based in research for her book, Sherman documents the guilt and coping mechanisms of rich New York residents who do not want to identify with their socio-economic class and hope to find self-worth outside of it.

Traces the “drift in meaning” of the phrase “the American Dream.”

An assistant editor analyzes Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby and argues that the social dynamics explored in the text both mirror and explain the behavior of President Trump.

“Before there was mansplaining, there was Rebecca Solnit's 2008 critique of male arrogance. Reprinted here with a new introduction.”

Examines the recent trend of college women who use specialized online dating sites to find wealthy older men

An examination of what has happened to women who came forward to report incidents of sexual harassment in the wake of the #MeToo Movement.

A look at how different people and political groups interpret what it means to be “culturally American.”