Is Meritocracy a Myth? 

This season on Glad You Asked, we explore how racial injustice impacts our society. Watch the full season here: bit.ly/3fCd6lt Want updates on our new projects and series? Sign up for the Vox video newsletter: www.vox.com/video-newsletter For more reading about inequity in the U.S. education system, which we covered in this episode, visit our post on Vox.com: bit.ly/31U8S0J

Education is a stepping stone to success. But money, family stability, environment, etc provide more stones

“You start to doubt your abilities as a student in middle school so you begin to act out, take the next detour” oof, I felt this in my bones. Turns out when you have to watch two siblings while your dad works out of state and your mom works night shift, people stop referring to you as “gifted” REAL quick.

Access to a healthy diet and nutrition also has a direct impact on a kids performance and ability to learn and grow as a human being. Poor diet and and nutrition is plaguing our working class and middle class families statistically. This can't end well

The opportunity gap is so layered. It's not only about quality of public education and the resources at certain schools. It's not even about wifi access at home. It comes down to every aspect of life and society. Access to nourishing food so that children grow up healthy, energized, and ready to learn. Access to income supplements so that kids don't need to work after school and can focus that time on studying or curricular activities. Better low income housing standards so that people have healthy, safe places to live and study. Universal healthcare so that kids have access to prescription glasses, speech therapy, and other learning supports. It's tragic how often kids with dyslexia, poor eyesight, malnourishment, or lack of sleep are just labeled stupid and pushed to the side. We need comprehensive social reform and I'm so glad people are having this conversation.

Genuine question since I am not familiar with living in US, how do Asian minorities manage to score well (based on the graphs shown here) despite the racism against them? Many Asians have had to build their lives from scratch in the US since the last 3 decades, if I am right, and basically started from 0. How did they manage the access gap is something I am unaware of. Happy to learn from a constructive discussion.

"You can't do the homework because the wifi is out." This hits differently after a year of crawling through remote "learning".

A privileged kid born into a rich family favorite line: "If you just work harder, you'll be successful too."

I'm disappointed that you didn't mention how public schools are funded by property taxes. That plays a large role in the differences between different public schools. When you combine that with the fact that the effects of redlining are still felt to this day, you can start to see the real problems facing our education system.

As a 1st gen college student, I really appreciate this take on education b/c the perpetual struggle that is put on you by society to constantly compete to survive can take a toll on your mental health

This is what inherited wealth looks like for the top 20%,” Reeves said. “You don’t save your money and give it to your kids as a bequest. You spend it on your kids so they don’t need the bequest. It’s an upfront investment.” But as universities tilt their admissions toward the wealthy, Reeves said, they aren’t just leaving talented low-income students behind. They’re also lifting mediocre rich students up. A 2005 study found that wealthy middle-schoolers with the lowest standardized test scores were more likely to graduate from college than poor middle-schoolers with the highest scores. Students with average SAT results are nearly six times more likely to be admitted to top-tier universities if their parents are alumni. One of Reeves’ studies found that 43% of the members of upper-class households had skills and intelligence that predicted lower incomes. The 'Glass Floor' Is Keeping America's Richest Idiots At The Top - HuffPost

It seems the real issue here is wealth inequality and not meritocracy. There is no doubt that better resources might lead to better scores. However, it doesn't mean that hard work and talent are irrelevant. It should be noted that not all rich kids get a perfect score and not all poor kids fail miserably. This shows that there are other factors at play apart from wealth/resources. Meritocracy is important because it provides an incentive to work harder. Overall, I feel serious steps should be taken to improve public schools and wealth distribution.

Sure, more resources definitely can give an individual an advantage. But I think culture also matters a lot though. I know many poor Asian families whose kids did well at school because of the emphasis they placed on education. Similarly, you see many children of celebrities couldn't care less about school despite having all the wealth to succeed.

Are you going to talk about racism towards Americans who are NOT white/black in this Glad You Asked Series? Asian-Americans? Latin-Americans? Native Americans? others? This is episode 4 but no mention of other people yet. Hope you eventually publish videos about them too in the coming episodes! It would be timely.

The stories of "rags to riches" or how anyone can get out of the hood through "hardwork" especially pisses me off, because as you said, now we look at those same kids who suffer from lack of opportunity and we tell them "well, ____ became successful, why can't you?"

I know it's not apples to apples, but where I'm from my ethnicity (Chinese-Filipino) was treated as second rate citizens for 400 years yet the majority of the wealthiest families here now are Chinese-Filipino. While the same can't be totally said in the US, Asian-Americans there have been discriminated against, surely, yet they're still finding ways to be the best compared to other ethnicities there. Why is that?

Equal is not always fair. A person’s opportunity is heavily influenced by the lives their parents lived. So why should those who lived well be penalized for it? It’s on us while we are young to live better than those who came before us. That is how we become equal. That path is truly fair. I came from a single parent household, I didn’t do the best in grade school either but I still went to college. Granted, I went to a community college first then transferred to a four year after, I still made it, and graduated with honors. Being poor, being black, being from a broken house hold, or having terrible parents doesn’t keep you from being successful. It makes it harder yes. It makes it less likely sure, but those who keep on the path and keep faith will find success. America doesn’t promise fairness, but opportunity. What is fair anyway? I was poor, black, and from a broken home was that fair? Was life fair to me?!? If I was to believe this video I’d say no. No one has a perfect life. Are their easier lives sure, but anyone can make it. Meritocracy has truth to it.

“Your big brother was shot.” That got dark real quick

based off on how my country (not the US) looks at meritocracy, i'd say that i don't buy into meritocracy when it's preached by the elites

Meritocracy is like assuming everybody have the high ground and not on lava.

It's a nice well researched episode and I totally agree with the fact that wealthy parents act as catalyst getting into good college but I would also like to point out that one should also look into child efforts. For examples Asian and Indians does not come from rich family background. Forget about wifi, they sometimes come from villages where there is no electricity but they still do better than white. So sometimes a hard work payoff too. If you see background of world renowned Indian their family background is not financially good but they still make up to best collages in USA and UK.

So I'm basically sold on the negative argument that we don't have a meritocracy. But what I never hear is a positive argument for an alternative. Could you ever devise a system where people with more resources won't do better? And what trade-offs would be required to make that happen?

Finland has the highest test scores IN THE WORLD and they DON'T do test,barely have homework but they DO have equal opportunity schools.

Meritocracy itself isn't the problem; lack of equal opportunity is. Some poorer communities in West Virginia, New York, and other states have to put up with spotty internet access, terrible public schools, a lack of extracurricular activities, and often times drugs and violence on the streets. Meanwhile, public schools in well-off neighborhoods tend to be much better. This problem doesn't discriminate based on race; poor people across all races face this problem.

I have neither great wealth nor political power, but it genuinely seems to me that encouraging people to be great at something and rewarding them for it is good for their own life, their family, their community, and the world in general. This video title is kind of clickbait-y; the video wasn't about whether meritocracy is a myth but was more about the uneven distribution of opportunities and corruption that make meritocracy ineffective.

My perspective is everything can be reframed in terms of privilege. We have a society that rewards achievement, but makes achievement dependent on privilege. Therefore we actually reward privilege, just in an indirect way, which slowly but surely concentrates money and power upwards and creates safety for the people who get there.

I think the biggest common thread from this race series, is that race isn’t necessarily the issue in modern day. The largest issue is finances and wealth. If you have money, whether it be self made or through family, you will have FAR more opportunities than your middle or lower class counterparts. It’s not necessarily a race issue, but rather an equity issue.

Vox need to release that board game as merch STAT. Or at least make the design printable on Community Members

Finally, someone is bringing this attention. Growing up in the NYC public school system, this is so apparent. I'd love to help out and be a part of this in any which way possible

Meritocracy is an ideal. The system we have hasn't reached it yet.

Whoever does the editing, that transition where the laptop opens is beautiful!

I can't believe that America is the richest country in the world, and a lot us never went to - or never will - go to college. This is just crazy.

Considering you could have 2 people go through the same exact program at a college with equal GPA - one at an elite school, the other at a state school and the state school grad would not be able to get in the door at companies that the elite grad would get into, the answer is yes for the most part.

Imagine what America would look like if EVERYONE got a chance...

The underlying cause of most issues is socioeconomic inequality.

It sounds like the issue is just segregation all over again. Only now it is for class instead of race.

I told someone meritocracy is like a guy with a bow and arrow can beat someone with a tank. They responded the guy with a bow and arrow still can win but if I feel that there is no chance they would put themselves in that position in the first place.

This makes me think of Kim K's statement about how women need to just get off their butts are work hard; but what I'm sure she now realizes isn't the miracle advice that will become the great equalizer. The perfect example of this is the "Rigged" game that was played in the clip.

2 million views, but only 200 comments? Who’s poor job is it to daily delete comments like this one I’m writing?

imagine growing up in a third world country, how the hell do you get motivation and willingness to study? you just want to die or run away from your neighborhood

I’m so excited for this whole season. These are very important topics that need to be discussed. Editing, research, mixing etc are as always, top notch.

"Meritocracy" when we don't all get the same education, access to the same diets, live with the same level of psychological safety, or even face remotely similar challenges?

To my inner child: it's not that you're not as smart as the rest, it's that you don't have the same opportunities.

Is this issue more to do with race or with wealth opportunity? I know of plenty of wealthy colored folks who are doing very well for themselves because of their wealth which I applaud their parents for, and I see many white kids suffering from many setbacks (unable to pay medical bills, unable to finish school work because they're working to support their parents or taking care of their siblings). How much direct impact does race still play today and how much is correlation between skin color and childhood economic standing? Edit and Disclaimer: this comment is not meant to make incidents of racial bias any less relevant, I really don't wanna come across as hateful, I just want to know what others think about this.

Meritocracy : Capitalism's favorite lie

I never give up. I keep pushing.

Meritocracy is a terrible tactic for resource distribution in situations where everyone is in it together, as we are as a nation. Imagine that you are on a rapidly sinking ship with several holes in it. Say you're the captain and you find that one repair group (Group-X) is doing better than the other (Group-Y). Remember time is of the essence and fixing some holes only slows the sinking. Do you send reinforcements to the 'successful' Group-X so that they can get even more done? That might be a good option, but what if the reason Group-X is doing better is just because the conditions faced by the Group-Y are much more difficult? In that case you should obviously reinforce Group-Y. Even if the difference was that Group-X's members were more experienced it wouldn't make sense to reinforce them either as they don't need additional experienced members or even just additional hands, whereas both would help Group-Y. This is just a simple analogy of course and no doubt it has holes of its own. The point is, we should be doing everything we can to help struggling schools. Improve facilities. Add more teachers and staff, favoring the best qualified by offering higher pay and the social and professional recognition that these jobs are especially valued. Maybe send in tutors for students and offer resources to parents (daycare, preschool). It is in all of our best long term interests that we all are prepared for a future together.

We would all have so much more of what matters if we helped each other.

Why are all of these questions so click-baity and un-nuanced? I subscribed to vox for quality nuanced topics. Asking this question is like asking "is communism a myth? 😱" No. You should ask "does our ideas of meritocracy hold water?" Or "how can we improve our meritocratic systems?"

That board game just made me sad, even though I am not playing.

If we all need education, why do we need it to be a competition? That’s not even education at this point

Let me know when you drop the game board! I'd love to play this with teenagers when they mature enough to understand the concept.

Meritocracy is a myth. It's all about connections and luck.

Caste system in India is worse

5:29 - 5:36 ...Yes that is how 99% of the world feels... those that are born in W-EU, Japan, S-Korea, even the US can consider themselves lucky... in some ways, unlucky in others...

Well for someone from Europe, US is far far away from meritocracy. In Europe i can guarantee system is more fair then in US. In Serbia it doesn't matter if you are black, white or whatever, we all go to public schools. Everything depends of a teacher or a professor. Later on highschools and Universities are also public and your chance really depends from your effort, not from you place of residence or social status. In US they don't like to say or admit but meritocracy is more possible in social democracy or even communist systems.

Environment and Opportunity are what's amiss about the US education system.

This video was greatly put. I would play Rigged over Monopoly any day!

This comes solely from the perspective of success in a corporatist consumerist lifestyle. There are many different lifestyles to persue. If you think a good life comes from wealth you will never be satisfied even when you obtain that wealth.

the key to success is being born to a rich family.

Yes, the answer to the title is yes. And even if society was a true meritocracy it would not be ideal for producing outcomes that are equitable.

Meritocracy? In the U.S education system? 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂lmaooooo

Really insightful look into the creaks and cracks of the educational system

Very enlightening video. It has helped prepare me for many conversations to come. Thank you.

I think that there are a lot of intresting points made but I cannot find the sources. Even the ones you explicitly name. This destroys your credibility for me. It feels more like an opinion for which people went looking for fitting facts. Instead of looking at facts and forming a opinion.

Good points were made by this video. As a NYC parent, watching this new lottery system where grades don’t count does not make sense. So, I educated my kids with summer school, after school, online courses and workbooks (all free or budgeted) for nothing. Hard work is cheating. Pushing my kids that education is the key to success. How does grades not count for education? I’m sure most people would want their doctors tested and have good grades. Is that also common sense?

Finding out the SAT was created by a pro-eugenics guy is not surprising. Our testing system has a very eugenics mindset to it.

Fair doesn't mean equal. Pain and struggle are our greatest lessons to be better. Now I show my kid do better not walk like I did.

Short answer: yes, kinda. Long answer: lol, definitely.

Really great video, amazing points and I’m glad you touched on how you managed to do well yourself but many people don’t and can’t make it, love from the UK.

She and her sister both speak "normally". I.e. they don't say "baffroom" "axe" etc.

Is this game sold somewhere? It makes valuable conversation for game nights.

I still believe in the American Dream, that’s why I’m moving to Chile 🇨🇱.

I, as a European, personally don’t believe that the American (and in my views quite extreme) version of capitalism is compatible with a true Meritocracy. I always have to laugh when I hear my friends at the other side of the pond rage about any political proposal that’s not downright immoral 😛

Oh ya meritocracy in the US capitalist society and education system is a joke. I do wish they explored meritocracy in other communities and settings such as the open source community, which have championed the ideals of meritocracy where they only cared about your code submissions while still making the scene extremely accessible.

just so poorly put together. Never actually defines meritocracy, only sorta distinguishes it from opportunity, never talks about what explains Asian academic success (or exploring their lack of career advancement), never mentions affirmative action, ... just barely scratches the surface. Here's another thought: we can't seriously have a non-meritocratic job market. Hiring people based on their race or SES instead of their qualifications is not smart business strategy (although in Canada, government jobs require diversity, so it does exist in the public sector here). But we absolutely can be non-meritocratic with education, admitting underprivileged kids to better schools based on race and SES. That's actually kind of the point of education. Everyone is capable of learning and to give kids less over time because they started with less is undoubtedly unjust.

I am pleasantly surprised by these comment section.

I really love the intro music they used, it sounds so familiar yet I have no idea what it is.

This is a wonderful series, and it's great to see what is basically à Think Tank of Young People, picking at difficult questions in society.

What is the GOALPOST here? The more I delve into politics and economics, the less I understand what we are aiming for. Do we want everyone to score the same on tests? That's unrealistic. Do we want everyone to have the same income? That's socialism, which doesn't work.

Well yes, meritocracy is a myth but, the current system is still the best system of equality we have so far. Although there are many system that in theory would be better, in reality those system requires resources that is by far unavailable. And it requires a balance that is impossible to achieve with such a great level of human greed. Take the Soviet Union for an example, although Lenin intend on making a land of endless opportunity, in the end he created the most imfamous dystopia in history. And Stalin ended up taking it over and create a cult of personality due to his greed. Okay maybe let's take a less harsh example, Lebanon. What used to be the most promising Arab country, even at one point it's capital is called "The Paris of the east", is now just a hot mess due to difference in religion and human greed.

Meritocracy is unrealistic, that's why positive action is needed.

This series is amazing and really educational. Great job discussing these issues. Just out of curiosity last season there were a few science videos which I found great, are any such episodes in the works or was that unique to the first season?

Excellente chaîne à diffuser le plus largement possible.

This resonates so much in many problems & aspects we filipino students struggle to trek success.

Truth is... The game is rigged from the start.

USA is 27th in the world on social mobility. Nordic socialist countries lead the way. The American dream is dead, inequality rules.

im amazed how this topic is presented i love the board game part!!

That vocal fry guy though. With a voice like that, he should've won that game.

So funny how Americans talk about testing while growing up in China we took small tests weekly, monthly and big exams twice a semester, got ranked not only amongst your peers in your class but also in your district. I think we take 100 tests probably every school year lol Being able to test for SAT & apply for colleges not fully based on score was already my escape from meritocracy toxicity.

Okay. Where can I get this game? LOL 👍🏽 Brilliant.

Spoiler alert: no

Such a thorough and insightful series

Maybe do something similar overseas, as racism is probably a bigger issue in the more conservative East and Arabia then the relatively liberal West

TL;DW, the guy who coined the term was being sarcastic and didn't think people would be stupid enough to embrace it. So yes, yes it is a myth.

Evaluate your results, if not satisfactory, work harder. Repeat until results improve to the level you want. Meritocracy, by definition, ranks an individual within a cohort, therefore, having the effect of differentiating amongst said individuals and thus at odds with notions of equality.

The myth of meritocracy justifies the inequities of capitalism. The solution is to "level the playing field" which can be done with socialism.

So I didn’t get good grades because I studied and sacrificed, I got it because I was somehow privileged

Wow, this is truly eye opening. Thank you for sharing this important message.

The problem isn't that it's not a meritocracy. The problem is it's not an INDIVIDUAL meritocracy. The system looks at it at the FAMILY level. The problem therefore being that it's not enough for YOU to have ability and put in the effort. You AND THE PREVIOUS TWO PLUS GENERATIONS needed to have.