Social Stratification: Social Mobility Quiz

Social Mobility Overview

• Social mobility refers to the ability to change positions within a social hierarchy, affecting one's social class status.

Upward Mobility

• Upward mobility indicates an increase or upward shift in social class, often linked to significant life achievements.
• The rate of individuals transitioning from poverty to wealth is notably low.

Factors Influencing Mobility

• Attaining a college degree, job promotions, and marrying someone with a high income can facilitate upward mobility.

Downward Mobility

• Downward mobility signifies a reduction in social class, potentially leading to economic hardships.

Causes of Downward Mobility

• Contributing factors include business setbacks, unemployment, illness, dropping out of school, and divorce.

Types of Mobility

• Intergenerational Mobility: Reflects the social class differences among members of the same generation, illustrating long-term societal stratification based on parental status.
• Intragenerational Mobility: Describes social class differences among individuals within the same generation, highlighting variations in status throughout one's life.

Structural Mobility

• Structural mobility occurs when societal changes enable entire groups to ascend or descend the social ladder, changing class dynamics broadly.

Vertical and Horizontal Mobility

• Vertical Mobility: Involves movement between social classes—can be upward or downward.
• Horizontal Mobility: Involves lateral movement to a different job or role at the same social class level, maintaining rank.

Absolute vs. Relative Mobility

• Absolute Mobility: Measures living standard improvements, typically gauged by income comparisons between generations.
• Relative Mobility: Examines the likelihood of children moving up or down in the social hierarchy compared to their parents.