The factors of social mobility

  

Date Posted: 11/5/2012 2:28:48 AM

Posted By: vann  Membership Level: Gold  Total Points: 1015

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The term social mobility refers to the movement of a person from one social status or social class to another along the social scale/ladder, which is movement between social classes.
Every individual would only wish to have an upward mobility where he or she moves from a particular lower class to a better class.

Factors that promote upward social mobility
Upward social mobility is the change or movement of an individual from a lower social status or class to a higher one. This can be brought about by:
1. Education.
Through education, it is very possible for an individual to move from a poorer level or class to a better class.
2. Promotion.
Through promotion, an individual would be able to change his or her social class. Promotion comes with a better pay and a better living standard of an individual.
3. Marriage.
Through marriage, it is possible for an individual to change a social class. For instance, getting married to a better of partner may help change the spouse to a better social class.

Other possible reasons that may contribute to an upward social mobility include,
4. Windfall gains for example, gambling, lottery wins, inheritance and others.
5. The supply of vacant positions.
6. The interchange of ranks.
7. Structural changes for example, technological changes.

However, there are some other reasons that may limit or act as barriers to an upward social mobility. These among others include the following.
1.Lack of opportunity for example, regional differences in availability of employment, schools and others.
2.Motivation. For example, class attitudes like lack of desire to study to obtain higher grades may be a limiting factor to a rise in social class.
3.Educational factors.
4.Inherited wealth.
5.Self-esteem by elite groups. For instance, nepotism, patronage by relatives and some other such factors.
6.Color or ethnic origin.
7.Structural factors, for instance, opportunities for mobility

with the work situation itself e.g. where many organizations recruiting graduate trainee managers rather than depending upon recruiting on merit from those joining the firm at an earlier age.
8.Religion
9.Attitude
10.Gender

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