Definition: Meritocracy refers to a system in which "the talented are chosen and moved ahead on the basis of their achievement."
Application: The United States is commonly understood to be a meritocratic society, in which success can be achieved through hard work, intelligence and strong character. This assumption however has been increasingly facing push-back by critics who point to rising disparities in wealth, education and health outcomes.
Adaptation: It is important for social workers and people working for socially just community development to have an understanding of inequality that acknowledges historical and structural causes of wealth disparities, rather than assuming issues facing low-income communities are the result of cultural or biological failings.
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