Class mobility involves movement between social classes, which can be upward or downward. Factors affecting social class include wealth, education, employment, race, family history, and culture. Many societies have a lower, middle, and upper class, with upward mobility being a goal for many. Downward mobility is a fear for some, as it can lead to prejudice from both previous and new social classes.
Class mobility is the movement of people between social classes. Mobility can be upward or downward in nature. Class itself is a difficult term to define, and different people can have different perceptions of social class, which makes it difficult to determine whether or not people are truly experiencing class mobility. In many societies, particularly in the United States, the idea of class mobility is a very important social concept, with citizens believing that everyone has an opportunity to move up the class ladder.
Several things can affect someone’s social class. Wealth and access to money are a big factor, as are education and employment. Other factors may include race, which can be a hindrance or an aid to class mobility, depending on the race and society in question, as well as family history and things like manners and culture. For example, someone with a lot of money might be considered upper class, but in some societies, he might not be considered upper class due to influences such as that person’s family history or occupation. A pawnbroker who has done very well, for example, may not be a member of the upper class despite having as much money as a famous banker, even though the pawnbroker’s children may be able to join the upper class by developing professions more prestigious.
Many societies are loosely divided into a lower, middle and upper class. The lower classes are typically low-income workers with limited education and few opportunities for educational or economic advancement. The middle classes are more economically stable, with more education and far more social opportunities due to their high class status. The upper class, usually the smallest group, comprises people with established social positions which include great prestige, along with economic security. In an illustration of class differences, the janitor who cleans a bank is lower class, while the bank manager with a finance degree may be in the middle class, and the bank owning family is in the upper class.
Upward mobility is the goal of many people in the lower and middle classes, who view the upper social classes as more economically and socially secure. Some people seek to achieve class mobility for themselves by aggressively pursuing educational and social opportunities, while others focus on laying the foundations for future generations of the family. For example, someone might work very hard to earn money for college funds, ensuring their children have opportunities that might not otherwise be available.
Downward mobility is a fear among some people who feel their social positions are precarious. A family experiencing a dramatic change in fortunes may find itself part of the class structure, especially if these changes persist over several generations. People who experience downward mobility can experience a lot of prejudice from people in their previous social class and people in the social class they end up in.
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