Social Mobility

Meaning of Social Mobility

Source: Social Mobility (wallstreetmojo.com)

Mobility stands for shift, change and movement. The change may be of a place or from one position to another. Further, change is value free i.e., it cannot be said that change is for good or bad. When we prefix “social” along with mobility it would imply that people or individuals occupying a social position, move to another position or status.

In the social ladder, this movement may be upward or downward or it may be inter-generational or intragenerational. In short, social mobility stands for change in the position of an individual or a group of individuals from one status to another.

On mobility, Sorokin was the first sociologist who wrote the book “Social and Cultural Mobility”. He believed that there is no society which is closed (Caste System in India) and no completely open society (Class System). He further contended that no two societies are exactly the same in the amount of movement allowed or discouraged. Further the speed of movement or change may differ from one period of time to another. The rate of change depends upon the level of modernization of a given society.

For example, a rickshaw puller’s son becomes a lawyer; and a clerk’s son becomes a doctor. In each case, a change in role between father and son provides the latter with more of the good things in life. The roles of lawyer, doctor and engineer require initiative, training and self-sacrifice.

Persons are motivated according to a complex variety of factors to work toward new roles, with their higher status and greater rewards. The good things in life are scarce and individuals must compete, conflict and cooperate with others to gain them. The mobile individual must constantly adapt to socially unfamiliar situations a new class, new norms, and new values. A member of a closed society spends his life in an environment that is familiar to him. In other words, an open society, with its high degree of mobility, does not guarantee happiness.

Definition

1. According to P. A. Sorokin, “Social mobility is understood any transition of an individual or social object or value anything that has been created or modified by human activity from one social position to another.”

2. According to Wallace and Wallace, “Social mobility is the movement of a person or persons from one social status to another.”

3. According to W. P. Scott, Social mobility refers to “the movement of an individual or group from one social class or social stratum to another.”

4. According to Richard T. Schaefer, “Social mobility refers to movement of individuals or group from one position to another, of a society’s stratification system.”

5. According to C. H. Persell, “Social mobility refers to the movement from one status to another status within a stratified society.”

6. According to Horton and Hunt, “Social mobility refers to progress or slip from a social strata.”