Ein Gastbeitrag von Hannah Burnham
No middle-class house in American suburbia is complete without a garage that can host at least one car. Garages are romantic, idealized destinations where the American Dream comes true and people of all ages become billionaires and rock-stars. The American garage lends itself to being a point of creativity for these groups, becoming the birthplace of Apple and Disney, as well as grunge bands like Nirvana and the Ramones. However, like all aspects of the American dream, its realization is reserved for those above a certain socio-economic status. The level to which one has acquired the American dream can be seen by the size and extravagance of one’s garage. In a neighborhood in Northern Utah, house prices rise from the bottom of a hill – where many of the houses do not even have a garage – to the houses with 3-car garages. This is typical of this neighborhood, as it is growing rapidly as a destination for many wealthy families and retirees building their dream homes further up the mountain. According to RedFin, house prices in North Ogden are around $570,000, while houses in Central Ogden are around $405,000. This contrast can be seen from the presence and size of garages in a spatial map.
The contrast between lower income areas – like college towns – and higher income areas can be reflected in the presence and use of garages. For a college student in Provo, Utah, a garage is not an important part of their living space, and car storage is spartan and utilitarian, sometimes uncovered or unused.
In contrast, this is a home in the aforementioned, affluent neighborhood in northern Utah.
The use of one’s garage is also indicative of socioeconomic status. If a family has a garage but does not store their car inside, that implies that their car is too big, sturdy enough to brave the elements, and that their neighborhood is safe enough that theft is not a significant threat to their car’s safety It could also mean that the family has too many cars to store them all away, another indication of wealth. Here is an example of such storage from the house pictured above:
Clearly, socioeconomic status is no indicator of neatness. However, such storage space is a luxury – families with less wealth most likely would not have such a garage and would therefore need to purchase or rent a storage container, or be more frugal with their belongings. Whether a garage is used for extra storage, vehicle protection, or as a creative space for college dropouts to become billionaires and rockstars, its presence reflects the socioeconomic divide between classes in America. This divide transcends storage capacity matters, and speaks to the availability of resources, the value of private property, and ultimately stands as a symbol of personal success.
Hannah Burnham arbeitet als studentische Mitarbeiterin an der Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah (USA) im Fachbereich Cultural Anthropology für April Reber. April Reber war am ISGV als Gastwissenschaftlerin tätig und hat hier unter anderem zu rechtspopulistischen Bewegungen geforscht.