The lie of "Pulling Yourself Up by Your Bootstraps"…

…and the Inhumanity of Ignoring the "Boot on the Neck"

The phrase "pull yourself up by your bootstraps" has become ubiquitous in societal discourse, as an attempt to perpetuate the myth of meritocracy, grit, determination and self-reliance being the only differentiating factor between wealth and poverty, success and failure. Yet the intolerable irony is that its origins were to actually mock the impossibility of the very task it describes. This phrase has been romanticised to invoke ideals of grit and resilience, both those well know the lie of such a proposition. The grim reality of systemic barriers and reinforcing feedback loops these days, renders this notion not only unattainable but also unjust, further exacerbating the chasm between wealth and poverty with an inhumane sense of humour.

The Origins and Paradox of the Phrase

Initially coined in the early 19th century, "pulling oneself up by one's bootstraps" sarcastically referred to an impossible feat. The very image of attempting to lift oneself from the ground by tugging on bootstraps highlights an endeavor that defies logic and physics. Nonetheless, the phrase has been co-opted as a metaphor for self-improvement, ignoring the inherently flawed nature of its promise, or perhaps even mocking those who believe in it. 

The co-optation of this phrase reflects a broader cultural phenomenon: the valorization of extreme individualism over collective responsibility. This narrative shifts the focus from systemic issues to individual actions, effectively absolving society of its role in perpetuating inequities. As a result, those who fail to "bootstrap" are often stigmatized as morally, intellectually or culturally deficient rather than recognised as members of a society with structural barriers beyond their control, and privileges beyond their reach.

Reinforcing Feedback Loops and Exponential Wealth

In reality, wealth begets more wealth, power begets more power, creating reinforcing feedback loops that perpetuate and widen economic disparities. Those born into wealth benefit from access to superior education, healthcare, and professional networks, all of which contribute to social capital, which further solidify and expand their economic standing. In contrast, individuals facing poverty, racism, sexism, xenophobia, ableism, classism etc, are expected to rely on their grit alone to navigate an environment fraught with systemic hurdles, often finding themselves entrenched in a cycle of limited opportunities and resources.

These feedback loops are not merely incidental but are actively reinforced by policy choices. Tax structures favoring capital over labor, underfunding of public education, and the privatisation of essential services create a system where the wealthy can exponentially grow their resources while the marginalised struggle to survive. Economic mobility—once touted as the cornerstone of the "American Dream"— was always a lie which never stood true for Black Americans, or migrants of colour; with intergenerational poverty becoming the norm for many communities. Pointing to the rare examples of “exceptionalism” and of specific Black Americans , despite the evidence and experience of the overwhelming majority, is a sign of a person’s obvious sense of cultural superiority and an indication of a person’s prejudiced mental framework.

It is clear and evident that the dynamics or reinforcing feedback loops disproportionately affect historically oppressed groups. In the majority of Western Colonialist Societies, the racial wealth gap is a direct consequence of policies such as redlining, segregation, migration exclusion, discriminatory lending practices, and political fear-mongering that impacts the lives of People of Colour. While white families have been able to accumulate and pass down some degree of wealth over generations, Black and Indigenous communities have been systematically excluded from these opportunities until very recently. The myth of "bootstrapping" ignores these structural realities, reducing systemic oppression to a question of individual effort.

Historical Context of Wealth Accumulation

For centuries, certain nations have amassed their wealth through the extraction of resources, exploitation of labor, and disenfranchisement of entire peoples and continents. Colonial and imperial practices enabled the transfer of vast wealth from the Global South to the Global North, building the economic foundations of modern wealthy nations at the expense of colonised lands. This historical context underscores systemic injustices that continue to shape global economic dynamics today, perpetuating legacies of exploitation and inequity.

One cannot overstate the scale of these injustices. The transatlantic slave trade, for instance, was not merely a moral atrocity but an economic engine that fueled industrialisation in Europe and the Americas. Similarly, the extraction of natural resources from Africa, Asia, the Middle East, Australia and Latin America created the conditions for immense economic growth in colonial powers while leaving the colonized peoples impoverished. Today’s global wealth disparities are the direct descendants of these historical processes, yet they are often framed as the outcomes of meritocratic systems.

Attempting to justify these extreme disparities in economic capacity by invoking notions of cultural deficiency or the “benefits of capitalism” rather than historical injustice epitomises the insidious nature of white supremacy. Such rhetoric not only disregards the systemic roots of wealth accumulation but also undermines the need for reparative actions that address the vast inequities caused by colonialism and imperialism. The perpetuation of these ideas risks revisiting the errors of history—errors that have led to egregious human rights violations and shattered societies.

The "Boot on the Neck": Contemporary Structural Barriers

The phrase "boot on the neck" aptly describes the lived experiences of those subjected to systemic oppression. These barriers are not accidental; they are the result of deliberate choices to prioritize profit and power over human dignity. For instance, the criminal justice system in the United States, UK, Canada and Australia disproportionately targets Indigenous, Black and Brown communities, creating a school-to-prison pipeline that destroys lives and perpetuates cycles of poverty. Similarly, immigration policies in many wealthy nations are designed to exploit migrant labor while denying migrants full participation in society, and on top of that fanning the flames of prejudice, resentment and hatred towards those migrants for the rest of their lives.

Economic systems further exacerbate these inequities. The gig economy, for example, thrives on the exploitation of vulnerable workers who lack access to basic labor protections. Meanwhile, climate change—driven primarily by the consumption patterns of wealthy nations, and wealthy people within those wealthy nations — disproportionately affects the Global South, where communities bear the brunt of environmental degradation despite contributing the least to its causes.

Toward Collective Responsibility

In place of allowing the perpetuation of the impossible bootstrap narrative, it is time to champion collective responsibility, collaborating across sectors to dismantle structural barriers and prejudices, and working towards equitable opportunities for all. Policymakers, educators, businesses, communities and individuals need to not just acknowledge but embody the principles of justice, unity and collectivism, if they want to create any change, and ensure resources and opportunities are available to the many rather than concentrated among the few.

Reparative actions are essential in this process. Reparations for slavery, colonialism, and other injustices still prevalent to this day, are not merely symbolic but practical steps toward addressing systemic inequities. These measures should include wealth redistribution, land restitution, and investments in education and healthcare for marginalized communities. Such initiatives are not acts of charity but moral imperatives rooted in justice.

Additionally, we must reframe our understanding of success. Rather than idolizing individual achievement, and excesses of wealth, consumption and wastefulness, we should celebrate collective progress that uplifts entire communities, as well as qualities of moderation, sustainability, contentment and generosity. This shift requires a fundamental reevaluation of societal values, prioritising cooperation and mutual support over competition and self-interest.

Conclusion

Discarding the illusion of the "bootstraps" myth and facing the reality of systemic inequities allows us to confront the complexities of current economic and social challenges. By recognising the reinforcing feedback loops and historical contexts that perpetuate disparities, we can actively pursue a framework of justice and equity. Creating a fair society means building pathways where all individuals—not just the privileged few—have the chance to thrive, and where historic injustices are acknowledged and rectified.

This commitment enables meaningful strides toward a future marked by genuine justice, equality, and unity in diversity. As we reject the myth of "self-reliance" in favor of collective responsibility, we lay the foundation for a society that values humanity over profit and equity over exploitation.