class mobility
Economic ladder movement
Class mobility is movement between social or economic classes, typically measured across generations.
Upward mobility—rising from working class to middle class, for example—is central to narratives of opportunity and meritocracy: The American Dream promises class mobility to anyone who works hard.
Downward mobility, though less discussed, is equally real.
Sociologists distinguish between absolute mobility (actual changes in living standards) and relative mobility (changes in rank compared to others).
- first generationEarliest in a line
- cultural capitalPrestige from education and taste
- scholarshipsFunds awarded for study
- wealth distributionHow prosperity is shared
- silver spoonSymbol of inherited wealth
vocational training · white collar · blue collar · nouveau riche · inheritance patterns · financial independence · economic opportunity · student debt · credentialism · caste · poverty alleviation · housing affordability · access to education · wage growth · working poor · American Dream · rags to riches · poverty
- social classstratum, bourgeoisie, proletariat, underclass, elite
- statusstatus, prestige, ranking, reputation, elite
- Economic Fairnessequal pay, fair wages, fair pay, pay equity, wage gap
- social mobilityeconomic ladder, social ladder, rags to riches, social climbing, career ladder
- AmericanaAmerican flag, Fourth of July, bald eagle, Thanksgiving, apple pie
- collegecampus, courses, application, dorms, dorm room
class mobilitycaste system
Hereditary class division
generational poverty · poverty trap · social stratification · birthright · feudalism
class mobilityeconomic stagnation
Persistent lack of growth
poverty trap · income inequality · wage stagnation · dynastic wealth