Ain't No Makin It

Discuss how Jay MacLeod critiques the American Dream in Ain’t No Makin’ It. How does the book challenge the notion that hard work and determination are sufficient for overcoming socioeconomic disadvantages?

Evaluate the portrayal of education as a pathway to social mobility in the book. What factors limit its effectiveness in breaking the cycle of poverty in Clarendon Heights?

Examine how race and ethnicity intersect with class to shape the life chances of the book’s subjects. How do these intersections manifest differently for the Hallway Hangers compared to the Brothers?

Analyze how specific economic policies of the 1980s and 1990s affected the young men of Clarendon Heights. Consider policies related to employment, housing, and the war on drugs in your analysis.

Discuss the concept of cultural capital as presented in MacLeod’s study. How does cultural capital affect the educational and occupational outcomes of the groups studied in the book?

Explore the narrative structure of Ain’t No Makin’ It and discuss how MacLeod’s method of storytelling contributes to or detracts from the effectiveness of his sociological arguments.

Using Ain’t No Makin’ It as a case study, argue for or against the idea of meritocracy in American society. What does MacLeod’s research suggest about the fairness of the meritocratic system?

The primary focus of MacLeod’s study is on young men. Explore the role gender might play in similar socioeconomic settings. How might the experiences of young women in a similar context compare or contrast to those of the Hallway Hangers and the Brothers?