The American Dream, the national promise of equal opportunity and endless possibilities for economic mobility, has been and still is deeply inculcated in American culture. However, economic mobility in the United States is lower than initially thought, as demonstrated by numerous studies by economists, and this refutes the fundamental ideas of the American dream. Class, a major cause of declining economic mobility, remains a sensitive topic in America. This sensitivity stems from popular culture ideals of not arguing or debating class, as well as the many myths that Americans and foreigners are trapped into believing. Variations in American lifestyles, a component of the class ideas presented by Mantsios, are another factor in reducing economic mobility. This variation is primarily a result of the diversity in the United States and its heterogeneous society. Race, a social construct, is also a major source of economic mobility. Through the help of the media, society has led Americans to associate success and wealth with Caucasians, and failure and poverty with minorities. Another major cause of declining economic mobility is parental influence, the idea that a child follows or departs in the footsteps of a parent or guardian. Education, a symbol of American success, also determines an individual's economic mobility. In American culture, continuing or completing education is believed to automatically grant individuals endless job opportunities, increased income, and upward mobility. In conclusion, class, race, parental influence, and education are all factors related to economic mobility. Keywords: economic mobility, American dream, class, race, parental influence, and education... middle of paper... .ion, for example, can send their children to public or private colleges. Thus leaving children whose parents have no monetary access to only attend community colleges or simply shut down their educational process entirely. This lack of mobility for children who cannot continue their education, according to Bernstein's (2003) study, “[puts] a damper on the intergenerational progress that has long been a pillar of the American experience” (p. 95). Bernstein's research points to a flaw in the American Dream because it does not provide equal opportunities to the children of the poor and without education they cannot move up the economic spectrum. Bottom line, class, race, parental influence, and education are all related. economic mobility factors. Each of these contributes to an individual's ability to achieve their American Dream.