Social Mobility
Social mobility is the ability to change a person's social class or occupational status. It can be upward (upward mobility) or downward (downward mobility). People move up in their social class because they have increased their income or their status in society, such as becoming a president.
Reducing Inequality
Increasing economic mobility is an important factor in reducing inequality. It also increases a person's opportunities for education, physical and mental health, and family formation.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Upward Mobility
In the United States, for example, upward mobility is often considered a positive development that reduces class inequalities. However, it is not without its downsides. For one thing, it may result in a loss of traditional ties between people. This can lead to social anomie, where individuals feel isolated and anxious about their situation.
Another disadvantage of upward mobility is that it can lead to a decline in the quality of social relationships and the stability of families. In the United States, this is most commonly attributed to the large number of children born into poor families.
Benefits of Economic Mobility
On the other hand, people with higher economic mobility tend to have better mental and physical health than those with lower economic mobility. It is also believed that economic mobility leads to better education and job opportunities, which in turn improves a person's life chances.
Social Mobility and Equality
Despite these benefits, some people argue that economic mobility is not enough to overcome class inequalities. They believe that a higher level of social mobility is needed to achieve equality in society, and that the United States has a greater degree of class division than most other developed countries.
Some researchers argue that social mobility does not necessarily lead to more equal distribution of wealth in a country, but it does help create an equal level of opportunity for all members of society. This is because it reduces the gap in wealth among different socioeconomic groups.
Challenges for Specific Groups
A higher level of social mobility also helps people who are struggling to find work. For instance, if a person who has been a homemaker for most of their adult life is able to get a job at the local supermarket, this is a much greater improvement in their living conditions than if they had been unemployed since childhood.
The same is true for those who have been a single parent or had a child with special needs. Those with these kinds of difficulties are not as likely to be able to move up the social ladder because they have fewer opportunities for retraining, relocating, or finding a new job.
Addressing Social Mobility
These are problems that many societies face, including the United States. This is especially true for low-income societies.
For example, many poor neighborhoods in developing nations lack the resources to support high quality schools or provide the network of friends and role models that can help a young person find a good job.
Therefore, it is vital that social policies promote economic and educational mobility, as well as support for the development of a broader and more inclusive society. In particular, this requires that policies ensure that everyone is able to access high quality education and housing.
