social mobility
Changing economic strata
Social mobility is movement between economic or social classes, typically across generations.
Upward mobility means rising to a higher class than one's parents; downward mobility means falling.
The term often appears in discussions of opportunity and inequality: Education has traditionally been a path to social mobility.
The American Dream promises social mobility to those who work hard.
Grouping by shared traits
- casteInherited social division
- hierarchyRanked authority structure
- stratificationDivision into distinct levels
- bourgeoisieCapitalist ownership class
proletariat · aristocracy · working-class · middle-class · upper-class · elite · blue-collar · white-collar
Unacknowledged limit blocking advancement
- discriminationUnjust differential treatment
- inequalityUnequal distribution of resources
- segregationForced separation by group
- exclusionBeing barred from participation
prejudice · redlining · nepotism · cronyism · casteism · racism · sexism · poverty trap
Forward movement or promotion
- climbingAscending by physical effort
- riseMove to higher position
- progressionSequential forward movement
- promotionRank increase or publicity
elevation · breakthrough · improvement · self-improvement · aspiration · ambition · striving · achievement
Educational funding or erudition
- degreeUnit of measurement
- diplomaAcademic completion document
- universityHigher education institution
- vocational trainingJob-skill education
apprenticeship · mentorship · literacy · upskilling · qualification · graduation · tuition · academia
Paid occupation status
- entrepreneurshipCreating and managing ventures
- networkingBuilding professional relationships
- recruitmentSeeking new personnel
- job marketEmployment availability collectively
vacancies · prospects · startups · workforce · diversity · inclusion · equal opportunity · affirmative action
Property received from ancestors
- capitalWealth used for investment
- assetsOwned items of value
- investmentsAssets bought for profit
- real estateLand and its structures
trust fund · intergenerational wealth · wealth transfer · financial literacy · home ownership · wealth accumulation · disposable income · savings
class
Grouping by shared traits
- casteInherited social division
- hierarchyRanked authority structure
- stratificationDivision into distinct levels
bourgeoisie · proletariat · aristocracy · working-class · middle-class · upper-class · elite · blue-collar · white-collar · gentry
glass ceiling
Unacknowledged limit blocking advancement
- discriminationUnjust differential treatment
- inequalityUnequal distribution of resources
- segregationForced separation by group
exclusion · prejudice · redlining · nepotism · cronyism · casteism · racism · sexism · poverty trap · structural inequality
advancement
Forward movement or promotion
- climbingAscending by physical effort
- riseMove to higher position
- progressionSequential forward movement
promotion · elevation · breakthrough · improvement · self-improvement · aspiration · ambition · striving · achievement · success
scholarship
Educational funding or erudition
- degreeUnit of measurement
- diplomaAcademic completion document
- universityHigher education institution
vocational training · apprenticeship · mentorship · literacy · upskilling · qualification · graduation · tuition · academia · credentialism
employment
Paid occupation status
- entrepreneurshipCreating and managing ventures
- networkingBuilding professional relationships
- recruitmentSeeking new personnel
job market · vacancies · prospects · startups · workforce · diversity · inclusion · equal opportunity · affirmative action · internship
inheritance
Property received from ancestors
- capitalWealth used for investment
- assetsOwned items of value
- investmentsAssets bought for profit
real estate · trust fund · intergenerational wealth · wealth transfer · financial literacy · home ownership · wealth accumulation · disposable income · savings · property
- social systemspolitical systems, capitalism, feudalism, economic systems, legal systems
- social classesupper class, middle class, lower class, working class, nobles
- social phenomenaconformity, inequality, polarization, globalization, collectivism
- human geographycultural landscape, demographics, migration, demography, urbanization
- sociologystratification, norms, class, habitus, deviance
- Economic Fairnessequal pay, fair wages, fair pay, pay equity, wage gap
social mobilitycaste system
Hereditary class division
social stratification · feudalism · apartheid · untouchability · class barriers
social mobilitynepotism
Preferring kin in hiring
dynastic succession · old boy network · classism · structural inequality · poverty trap
social mobilityeconomic stagnation
Persistent lack of growth
downward mobility · status quo · generational poverty · cycle of poverty
social, society, sociable, mobility, socialism, antisocial, socialist, socialize, unsocial