The mythology of meritocracy has several ideological effects. It denies the role of personal connections, wealth, background, gender, race, or education in an individual’s success. If, for example, women (or people of color, or gay people) are not getting venture-capital funding at the same rate as men, the myth maintains, it is due to their lack of ability rather than institutional sexism. It also justifies immense wealth as the worthy spoils of the smartest and best. This libertarian bent may explain why wealthy technology workers are far less philanthropic than their “high society” counterparts; the mythology certainly implies that those mired in poverty are similarly deserving of their lowly status. The myth of the entrepreneur goes hand in hand with the myth of meritocracy, setting entrepreneurs apart as a rare, visionary breed who uniquely deserve their success.

Alice E. Marwick, Status Update, loc. 673