Big cars, large houses, the sexual revolution, and founding documents represent a persona. That’s individualism in American culture. Is it prominent, and what’s the big deal about this ideology in today’s view?
American individualism continues to evolve in the 21st century. Ideas of entrepreneurship, self-reliance, and diversity thrive. Our Founders built a nation dedicated to the individual. U.S. culture embodies concepts such as rugged and expressive individualism.
In my research for this article, I read many studies and 3 books. I will give you the best analysis from start to finish. We will begin with some fun stats, a brief analysis on the sexual revolution, and the foundation of it all. Let’s move along.
American Stats of Individualism
I mentioned in the introduction trucks and houses.
People associate trucks with car culture and houses with status. These are symbols of individualism. I’m not here to pass judgment. I’m stating facts. We buy what we like, therefore, it represents us.
Quick Facts
Car Culture Facts:
- 91% of households have access to a car
- F-150 is the best-selling vehicle in America
- An electric car museum exists at Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles
Many of you reading this post drive an F-150. If you named it, you gave your truck an identity. Thus, “Big Bertha” is an individual.
You go on epic road trips together finding those quiet spots to relax. We all need time away. No judgment here.
When Henry Ford invented the Model T in the early 20th century, he failed to realize his machine’s fame. It started an individualist cultural movement lasting over 100 years and continues today.
America’s entire infrastructure expanded to match the car’s benefit. We have the superhighways of Los Angeles to the drive-thru line of McDonald’s. It is all about freedom of choice. You decide your vehicle’s schedule. And you’re not attached to a train’s or bus’s timetable.
House Facts:
- The median size of houses increased by 150% since 1980
- Home Ownership is 65.9%
- Average commute time has risen steadily to 27.6 minutes since 2009
We are living in larger houses and almost 2/3s of Americans own their house. Our commute times increase since we have easy access to automobiles. We live further away from the city’s center.
Thus, the point of all these stats is to tell you that Americans are individualists. Owning our homes and cars expresses our likes and dislikes.
While you have the house or truck, you don’t keep it the same as everyone else. You add landscaping to differentiate your lawn. You add a stereo system or change the tires on your truck. If you own an electric car, you can paint the entry door to your charger.
All these changes provide clarity on your uniqueness. Now, go paint your garage door something besides white!
Importance of Individualism in American Institutions
We swear allegiance to the following as American citizens:
- God
- Family
- Country
A certain feeling grabs hold of you when you realize the importance of this promise. You’re fully committed to everyone who depends on you. That is your:
- Spouse
- Fellow American brothers and sisters
- Institutions
Yes, you must believe in institutions. They are the backbone of America. They aren’t perfect, but you’ll help make them better.
There are more fundamentals to individualism. LEARN MORE and see what is takes to be an individualist by reading rules of individualism.
Civic Participation
It is a sub-category of government and has roots in Republicanism. The Founding Fathers promoted it.
Participating in the decision-making process of your government gives you choice. We all like options.
You want the best:
- Representatives
- Senators
- President
When you vote, you promote civic duty. Did you realize that?
Another big way to engage is to stay current on important topics.
I can’t tell you what your needs are. It all depends on the individual sacred pledge you took to your family and friends.
Staying connected also keeps you close to a community of friends. Exchanging ideas and them telling you’re wrong is an added benefit.
For libertyembers.com, we pledge to keep you engaged about liberty. It is our civic obligation.
Entrepreneurship and Self-Reliance
Starting a business is risky. You never know if you will fail or succeed. The journey will take you to meet places and people you’ve never considered.
Your tenacity and self-reliance will give you strength during tough times. Small businesses are the lifeline of America. We must keep them alive!
Critics often say that special interests and corporations rule America. Let me tell you a secret to combat that!
Remember the above section about civic duty?
Individualism and the America I know adapt to unfavorable circumstances.
I’ll close this section with this.
John Hancock dreamed big with his large signature on the Declaration of Independence. Urban legend states he said the following as he committed treason:
John Hancock
There! His Majesty can now read my name without glasses. And he can double the reward on my head!
Be BOLD and independent like John Hancock! Your obligations to your pledge will thank you.
Rugged individual vs Expressive individualism in Politics
These 2 distinct types of individualisms are polar opposites in modern American culture.
Rugged Individualism
You know the imagery of a rough and self-reliant cowboy. John Wayne and Clint Eastwood come to mind as great movie examples.
This iconic American term grew out of the literature of the American West. From the 1860s onward, it became a time of great expansion and entrepreneurship. Americans sympathize with the “can-do” attitude the cowboy represents.
They are the essence of the self-reliant individualist ready to take on the world. For instance, a cowboy can ride a horse, woo a woman, and chase a feral cow on the same day with 100% success.
Also, rugged individualism captured the souls of gun owners. They embody this identity.
Their #1 enemy is gun control since it is wrongly classified as” gun safety”. That’s clever advertising.
They believe government regulation of firearms is of the devil. The individual rights of the 2nd amendment and self-defense are crucial.
You see them at locations around the United States promoting:
- Masculinity
- “Grab yourself up by the bootstraps” – a phrase meaning overcome and conquer your problems
- Tenacity
The rugged types want to be left alone. Don’t bother them!
Related Articles
• Do you ever wonder how people think? LEARN MORE about the mentality of the rugged individualists.
• The history of the cowboy and the West exist. LEARN MORE about the roots of rugged individualism.
Expressive individualism
Expressive individualism focuses on yourself. I’m a unique person with exceptional thoughts and desires. What’s good for me?
We all are expressive.
But it varies based on your comfort level within yourself. For instance, you can:
- hide your intentions by talking with a mumble
- Or raise your hand with great vigor
Which one do you do?
All the varying degrees of intensity make this individualism hard to pinpoint.
On the other hand, depending how you view sex makes this next topic controversial. These are the bold expressive types.
You know the self-proclaimed man of leisure- Hugh Hefner and Playboy Magazine. He is the ultimate example of expressive individualism sparking the sexual revolution. Famous people such as Vanna White, Drew Barrymore, and Madonna posed for his cameras.
The 1960s to the present yielded cosmic changes never before seen. We now see sexual acts on tv once blurred the decade prior. More skin equals more money for everyone.
Sex sells and Hollywood knows it.
Also, the sexual revolution furthered gay rights and the transgender movement.
Expressive individualists promote:
- Uninhibited self-expression
- Body freedom
- No conformity
Yes, we can all be expressive. A lot varies with morals and how much uniqueness society accepts. At the current moment, expressive individualism is a bullet train going 300 mph with no end in sight. It’s rising.
Related Articles:
• “Expressives” are loud and proud. LEARN MORE in more detail how radical “expressives” threaten and interact with society.
• Have you wondered where “expressives” come up with this new mentality? LEARN MORE about expressive individualism ideology.
Technology and Individualism: Are we isolated?
So far, I’ve given a positive vibe of individualism. Yet, technology continues to develop making us adapt.
Surveillance and the Man
Privacy is an important right of Americans. The rugged individualists would rather have “Liberty Over Security.” By the way, Ben Franklin agrees.
After 9/11, the U.S. proposed the Patriot Act to prevent terrorism. Government officials now monitored your phone calls, e-mails, and other communications from their dungeons. The government leveraged technology against you.
Opposition grew against this act. It took years of activism to rid of this unconstitutional act.
Also, we receive information faster than ever. Someone films footage of the following, and we see it within minutes:
- War
- Natural disasters
- Footage of obedient populations under state surveillance
Technology is spectacular to preview the future. We want to be free and not under surveillance like in other countries. Keep up civic participation to prevent it!
Dangers of Artificial Intelligence
Artificial intelligence-known as AI- alarms you and other American Patriots. The worry is the programmer of this technology will become its slave-not its master. In other words, you let the AI control you.
Currently, you can have complete conversations with it. The AI learns from previous encounters. Thus, in theory, it might outsmart you and become your individualist self. What a scary thought!
A great example of this fear is the Terminator movie series. Arnold Schwarzenegger starred in the 1984 original movie.
In the end, I’m saying be aware- not paranoid.
Social Isolation
Are you alone on a planet of over 8 billion?
Collectivists say yes. You have no sense of community due to increased isolation from technology.
In a world of instant gratification, shippers are working to reduce transit times from your button push. You order the following online:
- groceries
- toilet paper
- Random stuff you like
The use of technology keeps us away from communities. Critics say we don’t have the personal engagement with the clerk at the grocery store.
We will see what the future holds with this rising issue of American individualism.
Why America values Individualism? The History
I’ll discuss a brief history of individualism from the American viewpoint.
Ideas originate from great thinkers. Those ideas evolve over time through a complex web of culture and society.
Individualism transformed the United States into a world power through individualist’s innovation.
The Enlightenment -like the Renaissance- saw ideas flourish never before seen. People weary of these ideas didn’t fully embrace them.
Should I accept myself as a person who:
- Thinks
- Feels
- Cries
Many philosophers- as John Locke- answered yes. You do have a sense of “self” known as individualism today.
Why did people shift toward this way of thought? Here is a little backstory for you.
Kings and queens treated their people like animals. They became a commodity and gave them NO dignity. You like acknowledgment from others We require social interactions being human.
Thus, the Founders recognized dignity in our original documents. The Declaration of Independence acknowledged people with the words “all men are created equal.”
“All men are created equal”
– Declaration of Independence
In short, individualism grew out of the great thinkers. Others pondered these ideas further developing what we know today.
If you want a more detailed history of Individualism, LEARN MORE by reading my article about Individualism: Past to Present.
Conclusion
American culture and individualism are famous. Individualists don’t like conformity and desire self-expression.
You look at the consumer choices we make. Our trucks and houses define our most basic outlooks toward ourselves. Why else do you spend thousands each year to upgrade your décor or put rims on a truck that runs fine?
We have institutions that define us. Being active in local government is one. Entrepreneurship to develop the next famous invention is another.
Rugged and expressive individualisms are polar opposites. On the political spectrum, each extreme misunderstands the other. One concept they do agree on is self-expression. But they exercise it in different ways.
Technology creeps into all parts of our lives no matter if we’re a hermit. It’s coming. For all the positives, human nature takes advantage of technology by using it to spy on us.
Some say computers isolate us from the rest of the world. I see their argument, yet, there are remedies.
Finally, I summarized a brief synopsis of the basic history of individualism. It is indeed in our founding documents.
Leave this blog post with one thought.
Individualism is a method of thinking like no other. It provides you the freedom to accept or reject what you don’t like. American culture embraces it.
What is the most intriguing idea that I presented in this article?
J. Liberty
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