The “Bootstraps” Narrative Is Very Complicated

It brings up deep emotional intensity, but that’s the part we don’t acknowledge.

You are probably familiar with the general idea of the narrative here. In essence, if someone is complaining about their lot in life, the hand they were dealt, work in general, or their economics — someone else might say, “Pull yourself up by your bootstraps.” The idea at core, obviously, is “hard work solves everything.” And that’s a good narrative, which in many ways is central to the American ideal. (And maybe the general “western” ideal.)

The “bootstraps” narrative is complicated, though, as a function of several things which I’ll try my best to briefly discuss herein:

• Timing
• The value of hard work
• Privilege
• Sense of self and definitions of success
• Who says it and who receives it

Let’s walk it out.

Timing: The basic fact is, college is more expensive now than it has been ever, and that model is a runaway train until we get some federal regulation or some self-awareness. It basically costs about $160,000 or so to go to a four-year college, writ large. 50 years ago, I think that number was maybe $40,000 max. What’s insane about…