social ladder
Class progression system
Social ladder is a metaphor for the hierarchy of social status, wealth, or prestige in a society.
People speak of climbing the social ladder through education, career advancement, or advantageous marriage: She married well and climbed the social ladder.
The image implies discrete rungs—distinct levels one ascends or descends—rather than a smooth continuum.
Social dominance arrangement
- stratificationDivision into distinct levels
- echelonsLevels within a hierarchy
- levelsHeights or ranked stages
- rankPosition in hierarchy
caste · class structure · tiers · upper class · middle class · lower class · underclass · working class
Strong desire for achievement
- driveOperate a vehicle
- strivingEarnest sustained endeavor
- determinationFirmness of purpose
- motivationImpetus toward a goal
goal-oriented · ambitious · upward · self-improvement · careerism · enterprise · initiative · tenacity
Rule by hereditary elite
- nobilityTitled ruling class
- gentryHighborn but not noble
- oligarchsWealthy few who govern
- bluebloodsHereditary upper class
jet set · upper crust · privileged · affluent · wealthy · powerbrokers · tycoons · magnates
Reputation commanding admiration
- standingPosition, physical or social
- classGrouping by shared traits
- positionLocation or stance
- stationFixed stopping point
stature · respectability · reputation · clout · cachet · pedigree · credentials · recognition
Rising social or economic status
- career advancementProfessional upward mobility
- progressionSequential forward movement
- ascentUpward movement
- promotionRank increase or publicity
opportunity · education · bootstrapping · meritocracy · equality of opportunity · professional development · rise · climbing
Building professional relationships
- schemingCrafty and calculating
- strategizingFormulating tactical approaches
- alliancesFormal unions for cooperation
- ingratiationDeliberate favor-seeking behavior
opportunism · self-promotion · influence · lobbying · schmoozing · flattery · positioning · currying favor
pecking order
Social dominance arrangement
- stratificationDivision into distinct levels
- echelonsLevels within a hierarchy
- levelsHeights or ranked stages
rank · caste · class structure · tiers · upper class · middle class · lower class · underclass · working class · bourgeoisie
aspiration
Strong desire for achievement
- driveOperate a vehicle
- strivingEarnest sustained endeavor
- determinationFirmness of purpose
motivation · goal-oriented · ambitious · upward · self-improvement · careerism · enterprise · initiative · tenacity · zeal
aristocracy
Rule by hereditary elite
bluebloods · jet set · upper crust · privileged · affluent · wealthy · powerbrokers · tycoons · magnates · plutocrats
prestige
Reputation commanding admiration
station · stature · respectability · reputation · clout · cachet · pedigree · credentials · recognition · honor
upward mobility
Rising social or economic status
- career advancementProfessional upward mobility
- progressionSequential forward movement
- ascentUpward movement
promotion · opportunity · education · bootstrapping · meritocracy · equality of opportunity · professional development · rise · climbing · breakthrough
networking
Building professional relationships
- schemingCrafty and calculating
- strategizingFormulating tactical approaches
- alliancesFormal unions for cooperation
ingratiation · opportunism · self-promotion · influence · lobbying · schmoozing · flattery · positioning · currying favor · brown-nosing
- hierarchiestier, tiers, level, levels, rank
- social classupper class, middle class, lower class, working class, class
- statusstatus, prestige, ranking, reputation, elite
- pecking orderpecking order, alpha, beta, omega, dominant
- social hierarchycaste system, caste, class, class system, ranks
- social mobilityclass mobility, upward mobility, downward mobility, income mobility, rags to riches
social ladderegalitarianism
Philosophy of universal equality
social equality · classless society · level playing field · social democracy · meritocracy
social laddercaste system
Hereditary class division
birthright · glass ceiling · dead end · social stratification
social laddercontentment
Peaceful satisfaction with circumstances
simple living · downshifting · dropping out · opting out · anti-materialism
social, society, ladder, associate, association, sociable, antisocial, socialize, unsociable