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The Myth of Meritocracy: Why Working-Class Kids Still Get Working-Class Jobs
The best jobs in Britain today are overwhelmingly done by the offspring of privileged parents. Meanwhile, it is increasingly difficult for bright but poor children to transcend their circumstances. This state of affairs should not only worry the poor. It hurts the middle classes too, who are increasingly locked out of the top professions by those from wealthy backgrounds.
Hitherto, both Labour and Conservative politicians have sought to deal with this problem by promoting the idea of 'equality of opportunity'. In politics, social mobility is the only game in town and old socialist arguments, which emphasised economic equality, are about as unfashionable today as mullets and shell suits. Yet genuine equality of opportunity is impossible against a backdrop of levels of inequality last seen during the 1930s. In a grossly unequal society, the privileges of the parents unfailingly become the privileges of the children.
A vague commitment from our politicians to build a ‘meritocracy’ is not enough. And besides, a perfectly stratified meritocracy, in which everyone knew their station based on ‘merit’, would be a deeply unpleasant place to live. Attempts to improve social mobility must start by reducing the gap between rich and poor.
Hitherto, both Labour and Conservative politicians have sought to deal with this problem by promoting the idea of 'equality of opportunity'. In politics, social mobility is the only game in town and old socialist arguments, which emphasised economic equality, are about as unfashionable today as mullets and shell suits. Yet genuine equality of opportunity is impossible against a backdrop of levels of inequality last seen during the 1930s. In a grossly unequal society, the privileges of the parents unfailingly become the privileges of the children.
A vague commitment from our politicians to build a ‘meritocracy’ is not enough. And besides, a perfectly stratified meritocracy, in which everyone knew their station based on ‘merit’, would be a deeply unpleasant place to live. Attempts to improve social mobility must start by reducing the gap between rich and poor.
128 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2016
27 people are currently reading
1147 people want to read
About the author
James Bloodworth
5 books82 followersJames Bloodworth is an English writer and the author of two books, The Myth of Meritocracy and Hired: Six Months Undercover in Low-Wage Britain. His work has appeared in the Guardian, the Times, New York Review of Books, New Statesman and elsewhere. He is on Twitter as @J_Bloodworth.
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
March 5, 2017
This felt like half a book - half an argument. I had not know before that the term 'meritocracy' was in itself created in a satire about the concept, only to embraced at face value by another generation without any sense of irony. It just goes to show how satire is often too close to the truth for its audience to spot the difference.
There are some good sections in the book on income inequality, the power of weak social ties and even how education continues to fail in one of its key roles, creating opportunity. The combination of these and other factors do indeed undercut the central idea of meritocracy. Problem is, the concept itself remains superficially attractive until one digs below the surface - but how many do? The current use of this idea as political currency has a certain value to people as a type of 'virtue signaling' - who wants to give up on an easy moral victory, no matter how shallow or illusive that might be? Perhaps it is age or experience but I am very wary of silver bullets. Meritocracy seems to be one and Bloodworth does a good job of revealing its slow turning into a social ceiling.
Why half a book? Maybe it is an unfair criticism, given the book is supposed to be a polemic, but what I found myself looking for was alternatives. It is not enough to break down a myth, especially a political one - you have to set out the alternative. How do we really deal with income inequality? How do we something as human deep rooted as social ties? And the question we have never really answered, even after so much effort and reform - how do develop a better education system?
There are some good sections in the book on income inequality, the power of weak social ties and even how education continues to fail in one of its key roles, creating opportunity. The combination of these and other factors do indeed undercut the central idea of meritocracy. Problem is, the concept itself remains superficially attractive until one digs below the surface - but how many do? The current use of this idea as political currency has a certain value to people as a type of 'virtue signaling' - who wants to give up on an easy moral victory, no matter how shallow or illusive that might be? Perhaps it is age or experience but I am very wary of silver bullets. Meritocracy seems to be one and Bloodworth does a good job of revealing its slow turning into a social ceiling.
Why half a book? Maybe it is an unfair criticism, given the book is supposed to be a polemic, but what I found myself looking for was alternatives. It is not enough to break down a myth, especially a political one - you have to set out the alternative. How do we really deal with income inequality? How do we something as human deep rooted as social ties? And the question we have never really answered, even after so much effort and reform - how do develop a better education system?
April 6, 2017
A well referenced, well structured, comprehensive discussion. I found it very interesting and it certainly got me thinking about a few things I'd never considered before.
November 14, 2018
Ótimo livro! Apesar de se referir à situação do Reino Unido, o tema tem uma abrangência global e tem estado cada vez mais presente nos discursos políticos também no Brasil. Isso pode ser visto na insatisfação com políticas sociais, bem como na marginalização daqueles por elas beneficiados, assim como na dificuldade/resistência em diminuir benefícios de grupos privilegiados. Pode ser vista correlação também entre a situação referida no livro e a fragmentação das lutas na esquerda também aqui no Brasil. Os argumentos para refutar a tese de meritocracia estão muito alinhadas com os mesmos argumentos presentes no livro "justiça: o que é fazer a coisa certa", de Michael J. Sandel.
Vale muito a leitura!
Vale muito a leitura!
October 28, 2019
This book's importance stems from the pervading belief among most of us (almost all) that a meritocratic society is a just society, that people get what they deserve going in a straight line from hand of divine providence to the fruits of one's own labor. As described in the book even with the UK lagging behind other western nations in terms of growing inequity, polls show majority believing that people still get what they deserve.
A mythological belief in the valorizaton of one's own actions in this world, no matter insignificant or how destructive they may be, are unfortunately ubiquitous and hard to let go off, given the economic obligation to distill one's 'capabilities' by how many units of account it can be exchanged for.
Letting go of this belief requires us engage in deep introspection about the ways we have organized ourselves currently and questions all our cherished beliefs about value, fairness, justice beyond our everyday utilitarian conception of these ideas.
Regardless of our domain of action, current structural imperatives imbibe in us a sense where we can't wait to be part of the problem when what we really need is to come together and try to conceive of a solution.
Anecdotal or even an empirical validation of our misconceptions about what is fundamental or what constitutes as base "reality", doesn't make it so, but it does fool us into ignoring the major constraints and contradictions guiding those validations.
A mythological belief in the valorizaton of one's own actions in this world, no matter insignificant or how destructive they may be, are unfortunately ubiquitous and hard to let go off, given the economic obligation to distill one's 'capabilities' by how many units of account it can be exchanged for.
Letting go of this belief requires us engage in deep introspection about the ways we have organized ourselves currently and questions all our cherished beliefs about value, fairness, justice beyond our everyday utilitarian conception of these ideas.
Regardless of our domain of action, current structural imperatives imbibe in us a sense where we can't wait to be part of the problem when what we really need is to come together and try to conceive of a solution.
Anecdotal or even an empirical validation of our misconceptions about what is fundamental or what constitutes as base "reality", doesn't make it so, but it does fool us into ignoring the major constraints and contradictions guiding those validations.
June 19, 2016
I have been looking for a book like this for some time and I'm very pleased to have found this one.
It's a critique of the philosophy of the meritocracy and it's implementation in the politics of the UK. Well written, concisely argued and easy to read. Perhaps a bit short? I could happily have read twice as much and would have appreciated some deeper theoretical considerations, and I would have liked a 'further reading' section. Excellent book nonetheless.
Well worth reading for anyone who has ever doubted that land of milk and honey promised for us in a true meritocracy. Perhaps worth it for those believers aswell.
It's a critique of the philosophy of the meritocracy and it's implementation in the politics of the UK. Well written, concisely argued and easy to read. Perhaps a bit short? I could happily have read twice as much and would have appreciated some deeper theoretical considerations, and I would have liked a 'further reading' section. Excellent book nonetheless.
Well worth reading for anyone who has ever doubted that land of milk and honey promised for us in a true meritocracy. Perhaps worth it for those believers aswell.
May 7, 2021
there is a myth that a meritocratic society is a just society.
September 12, 2019
Such an interesting book!! Really short, passionate and easy to read and I would seriously recommend it to anyone as an introduction to modern classism. A lot of it was surrounding stats and debates I've heard before (e.g. grammar schools) and it was a little irritating that he didn't discuss any solutions to these issues. Chapter 8, about identity politics and the modern "left wing" and how (despite all claims of "intersectionality") it excludes working class people, honestly blew me away. It was only 15 pages long and it has completely changed my outlook on that topic. It's a sad day when there's little place for working class people in the politics that was originally all about them. Is it any wonder they turn to the far right? Politicians are desperately pretending to work towards a society (a meritocracy) which systematically proves that working class people are inherently stupider and less able, purely in order to justify ourselves and absolve ourselves of any guilt over how horrifically unequal Britain is (one of the worst in the world, and worsening). If we ever did create a meritocracy it would merely give us an excuse to worsen that situation further. Honestly. Read this book, even if it's just chapter 8.
August 21, 2020
‘Only the meritocrats are seemingly incapable of recognising that human beings are- to some extent- products of their own history’
I really enjoyed this book and the way it takes the reader on a journey from the origin of ‘meritocracy’ to its position in modern politics. I particularly enjoyed the section on Thatcherism and New Labour and how the ideology of a meritocracy was almost central to their failings.
However, I have to agree with previous reviews about it almost being half an argument- it presents the argument against a meritocracy really well but lacks an in depth investigation into alternatives to this. Part 8 made some interesting points (eg about working class men falling behind) but it wasn’t executed or worded brilliantly in my opinion. Perhaps the arguments about identity politics have progressed since 2016 when this was written, but to me this part of the book seemed to want to focus solely on class rather than advocate for an intersectional approach to understanding class, which surely has it’s benefits for presenting a more detailed view of a meritocracy?
Either way, I still found this book fascinating and it has really made me reflect on some of my own internal biases.
I really enjoyed this book and the way it takes the reader on a journey from the origin of ‘meritocracy’ to its position in modern politics. I particularly enjoyed the section on Thatcherism and New Labour and how the ideology of a meritocracy was almost central to their failings.
However, I have to agree with previous reviews about it almost being half an argument- it presents the argument against a meritocracy really well but lacks an in depth investigation into alternatives to this. Part 8 made some interesting points (eg about working class men falling behind) but it wasn’t executed or worded brilliantly in my opinion. Perhaps the arguments about identity politics have progressed since 2016 when this was written, but to me this part of the book seemed to want to focus solely on class rather than advocate for an intersectional approach to understanding class, which surely has it’s benefits for presenting a more detailed view of a meritocracy?
Either way, I still found this book fascinating and it has really made me reflect on some of my own internal biases.
July 22, 2018
Terminado este libro que se lee en una tarde. Avala con datos lo que ya sospechaba. Es revelador y está plagado de reflexiones que te hielan. "The American author John Steinbeck once observed that socialism never took off in the United States because the poor saw themselves not as an exploited proletariat but as temporarily embarrassed millionaires."
April 1, 2019
Interesting collection of articles compiled into a concise book.
The myth of meritocracy details the political concept of social mobility, the supposed free market opportunity for all people.
The biggest spin of it all is making the working classes / general population 'believe' that a movement has a genuine benefit, when it fact it has the complete opposite effect.
Brexit anyone??
The myth of meritocracy details the political concept of social mobility, the supposed free market opportunity for all people.
The biggest spin of it all is making the working classes / general population 'believe' that a movement has a genuine benefit, when it fact it has the complete opposite effect.
Brexit anyone??
July 6, 2020
Bloodworth does an excellent job in highlighting how far the UK is away from becoming a meritocracy and why it shouldn’t be our aim. An insightful read albeit the depressing realism of the situation.
‘A more egalitarian society would ensure that everyone could live well, whereas a meritocratic society would endlessly remind the drudged of their worthlessness’.
‘A more egalitarian society would ensure that everyone could live well, whereas a meritocratic society would endlessly remind the drudged of their worthlessness’.
August 18, 2020
An interesting short summary explaining the ineffectiveness of what politicians call 'meritocracy'.
Although the author is detailing his subjective views, which appear at times overtly one-sided and swaying towards socialist discourse; overall the book offers an insight into ideas concerning social equality.
Although the author is detailing his subjective views, which appear at times overtly one-sided and swaying towards socialist discourse; overall the book offers an insight into ideas concerning social equality.
January 16, 2021
Brilliant book on a fascinating topic, though it feels like an extended essay. Would’ve enjoyed a more detailed argument and case for alternatives.
Although the findings and the premise of the book wasn’t new to me, it does a great job in structuring and outlining the harsh reality British society finds itself in.
Although the findings and the premise of the book wasn’t new to me, it does a great job in structuring and outlining the harsh reality British society finds itself in.
December 20, 2021
Muy buena la tesis final del libro: no hay que dar oportunidades a todo el mundo para que puedan triunfar, porque eso significa que habrá triunfadores y perdedores. Hay que cambiar la percepción con respecto al éxito y a la meritocracia social. Solo se centra en Estados Unidos, pero salvando las distancias se puede aplicar a España.
October 25, 2022
Definitely well thought through and well sourced, I feel like this book could have done with an argument for an alternative. It was definitely interesting and thought provoking read and opened my eyes somewhat to the political landscape that passed me by whilst I grew up.
Read on lunch breaks in the early hours.
Read on lunch breaks in the early hours.
January 18, 2024
We’ll argued but too short a book
Made some good points in reference to class politics across Britain and the consequences of the political shift to meritocratic policy and principles.
Would have been nice to see some ideas for solutions
Made some good points in reference to class politics across Britain and the consequences of the political shift to meritocratic policy and principles.
Would have been nice to see some ideas for solutions
June 15, 2024
Brilliantly analyses how the political class still fail to acknowledge the limitations of true inequality. Completely debunks the idea of council to Cambridge as accessible to all and exposes how the meritocratic ideal is holding back real action on inequality
July 17, 2017
Great read, well researched with some very pertinent points, especially on class. Felt a bit short, more like a series of articles as the subject could most certainly fill volumes.
February 23, 2018
Well written, concise and to the point. Recommended reading for those who rally behind the #allaboutme movements.
April 1, 2019
Now I know how competition ought to be
July 21, 2019
Short and to the point, and very well structured. If you want to explore a concise argument as to why a meritocracy is not a just society, read this book.
July 23, 2020
This book is a good look at the issues and reasons behind the system.
November 11, 2020
Although the book is mainly written in the context of the western world in Britain specifically, the tone of it covers a wide range of voices from across the countries/societies.
April 9, 2021
Oh, what a load of leftist ox poo!!!
August 4, 2021
A short read that starkly lays out reasons to be very, very angry with the UK's power structures - particularly with regards to its education system.
March 7, 2022
Other than the one before the last chapter, this book is near perfection
September 14, 2021
More dense and heavy going than Hired, so not as accessible. It reads like a thesis. Still interesting, and quite damning.
September 17, 2020
I DNF'd this book much later than I should have - some 89% complete.
The killing blow? When James claimed that being openly gay in parts of Britain today meant death - with nothing to support the claim.
A real chore to slog through, this book clearly bypassed the editor phase. Mind-numbing.
Further, a high school debating society holds more solid arguments than those contained within this waste of paper. The author starts making points but never arrives at any logical conclusion, on and on, repetitively. A professional problem finder, this book offers no solutions to anything it complains about. The heavy bias was obnoxious and endless.
Is meritocracy working to create equality? No. Will this book change anything or the way you think? No.
The killing blow? When James claimed that being openly gay in parts of Britain today meant death - with nothing to support the claim.
A real chore to slog through, this book clearly bypassed the editor phase. Mind-numbing.
Further, a high school debating society holds more solid arguments than those contained within this waste of paper. The author starts making points but never arrives at any logical conclusion, on and on, repetitively. A professional problem finder, this book offers no solutions to anything it complains about. The heavy bias was obnoxious and endless.
Is meritocracy working to create equality? No. Will this book change anything or the way you think? No.
August 14, 2016
Incredibly thought-provoking, this book really made me think about things slightly deeper than I had before. Should be widely read.
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews