Social mobility refers to the movement of individuals or groups from one social position to another over time. It can be horizontal or vertical.
Horizontal Mobility
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Movement between social positions on the same level.
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Doesn't alter social status or class.
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Eg. Changing jobs at same designation.
Vertical Mobility
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Upward - gaining higher status
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Downward - losing status
Intragenerational Mobility
- Refers to social mobility within a person's lifetime.
Intergenerational Mobility
- Compares mobility between generations - between parents and children.
Consequences of Mobility
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For Individuals: Rise or decline in economic resources, occupation, lifestyle.
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For Society: Indicates openness and equality of opportunity.
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Issues of meritocracy vs ascription in mobility patterns.
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Possible class conflicts due to inequality in opportunities.
Overall social mobility indicates the extent of social fluidity and flexibility in movements between different class and statuses reflecting openness of the stratification system.