Challenges to Upward Mobility in the American Economy
Challenges to Upward Mobility in the American Economy
Men have long dreamed of an egalitarian society, a society in which all members are equal. In such a society men will no longer be ranked in terms of prestige, states, wealth and power.
Clearly the egalitarian society remains a dream. All human societies from the simplest to the most complex have some form of social inequality. In particular, power and prestige are unequally distributed between individual and social groups.
Social stratification
Social stratification is a particular form of social inequality. It refers to the presence of social groups which are ranked one above the other, usually in terms of the amount of power, prestige and wealth their members possess. Those who belong to a particular group will have some awareness of common interests and a common identity. They will share a similar life style which to some degree will distinguish them from members of other social strata.
Social Mobility in Capitalist Society
It is generally agreed that the rate of social mobility ¡V the amount of movement from one stratum to another ¡V is significantly higher in Capitalist Society such as U.S.A. and H.K.. In H.K., this can be exemplified by the emergence of a large stratum of middle class families after the 80¡¦s. This middle class sector was seen to move upward on the social ladder and achieved their status on the basis of talent, ability and hard working rather than ascribed from their class of origin.
Although in recent years, due to the northwards movement of the manufacturing and services industry, some people have suggested that routine white ¡V collar workers are undergoing a process of proletarianization. But, generally speaking, our society can be regarded as ¡¥open¡¦, as having a relatively low degree of ¡¥closure¡¦.
Sociologists have identified two main types of social mobility. The first, intragenerational mobility, refers to social mobility within a single generation. The second type, intergenerational mobility, refers to social mobility between generations.
The significance of social mobility
The study of social mobility is important for a number of reasons. Firstly, the rate of social mobility may have an important effect on class formation. If the rate of social mobility is low, class solidarity and cohesion will be high and distinctive class sub-cultures and strong class identifications will tend to develop.
Secondly, a study of social mobility can provide an indication of the life chances of members of society. Thirdly, it...