The term meritocracy was first invented in 956 by Michael Young. Young argued that meritocracy would only perpetuate inequalities, and to some extent his predictions were correct. The term meritocracy was invented in the nineteen-fifties with a satirical intent that has now mostly been lost. Americans are more likely to believe that people are rewarded for their intelligence and skills, and are less likely to believe that family wealth plays a key role in getting ahead. The support of American citizens for meritocratic principles has remained the same over the last two decades, despite growing economic inequality, recessions, and the fact that there is less mobility in the United States than in most other industrialized countries. Meritocracy was first invented in the 0th BC by a Chinese resident who believed that the ruler who rules China should be chosen by his ability and talent. Young believed that everyone should be given the same opportunity no matter what their race, gender, or ethnic background is.
There could rise problems if meritocracy would be practiced. It can lead to inequality in education. For example, in Britain, class, gender, and ethnicity can affect the opportunities students have, even if they have good g
rades. Meritocracy is actually dividing the country. The country is now divided between the top % and the top 20%, and then the rest of the middle class (Markovits). The employees working high-paying jobs are working longer hours than ever before. Meanwhile, the middle class is falling behind, as employers demand more qualifications from employees. Right now, the middle class is suffering the most with the concept of a meritocratic society. We live in a society that divides people based on specific unchangeable metrics. There are a few groups that are rich that are continuously privileged, while the rest are continuously discriminated against. By doing this we are encouraging a meritocratic society that increases inequality wherever it is applied. In todays world, the biggest downside of meritocracy is that it is an equality of outcomes, not equality of opportunities. It rewards one group of people who promise good outcomes and continuously keeps rewarding them whenever the expected outcome is realized. These rewards come at the expense of not providing equal opportunities to the group that got left behind at the start of the cycle. All the inequality in the world race, caste, gender is rooted in this false concept of merit.