Factors of Social mobility

The Factors of Social Mobility

Social mobility refers to the movement of individuals or groups within a social hierarchy or stratification system. It involves changes in social status, either upward or downward, typically resulting from factors such as education, occupation, income, wealth, and social connections. Several factors contribute to social mobility, shaping the opportunities available to individuals and influencing their ability to move within the social structure. The factors of social mobility are as follows –

1. Access to quality education affects this mobility significantly. It provides individuals with knowledge, skills, and qualifications that can result in better job prospects and higher incomes.

2. An individual’s inherited socioeconomic status and upbringing can massively impact mobility. Individuals from socially backward backgrounds may encounter more hindrances in accessing education and securing well-paying employment opportunities leading to difficulties in accumulating wealth.

3. An individual’s occupation type may determine this mobility. Some professions allow more excellent opportunities for advancement, higher incomes, and the ability to move upwards in the social ladder, while others may have limited growth prospects.

4. The ability to move to areas with better employment and economic opportunities can be a crucial determinant of this mobility. Limited options, like a lack of affordable housing or limited transportation access, can prevent individuals from obtaining better opportunities.

5. Government policies and social programs play an essential role in shaping this mobility. Policies that promote equal access to education, affordable housing, healthcare, and skill training can help bridge the gap and increase mobility.

Impediments in the Course of Social Mobility

The researchers have not well understood the impediments that arise during the course of social mobility; the main impediments that arise during the course of social mobility have been identified as prospective features: (Aldridge, 2001).  

1. Educational Attainment: The educational qualifications acquired by an individual matter in social mobility; how he moves, how he progresses and how the individual is able to bring about improvements and transformations in his work or performance depend upon the education that he has acquired.

2. Childhood Poverty: The socio-economic background of an individual may become an impediment to social mobility, if an individual belongs to an underprivileged family, he may face obstacles in social mobility. The family influence, environment and the socio-economic background does influence the psychological and the behavioural development of an individual and if it is done in a positive manner an individual will be efficient during the course of his performance and conduct and if it is not done in a constructive manner then the individual will encounter impediments in social mobility.

3. Family Background: The family background and the approaches adopted by the family members in order to support their children such as financial, social, cultural aspects do affect access to opportunities that lead to social mobility.

4. Behavioral Traits: An individual’s attitude, behaviour, norms, values, thoughts, feelings, goals and objectives, mannerisms, expectations, aspirations, abilities, requirements, readiness to take risks and ways of communication with the community people do have an influence upon the aspects of social mobility and may prove to be impediments.

5. Economic Barriers: Economic and other barriers may arise which lead to hoarding of opportunities by the other groups, for example, anti-competitive practices which limit access to professions such as law and may even discriminate against particular groups. In India, still in some organizations, people are discriminated against and are not employed, for example, Muslims are discriminated against getting employed in some reputed organizations and they prefer only Hindus.

FACTORS AFFECTING SOCIAL MOBILITY

1. Economic Structural Changes:

Social mobility is influenced by changes in a society’s structure. Transitioning from agriculture to an industrial society increases employment opportunities, income, and standard of life, improving individual social stratification. Similarly, transitioning from traditional agriculture to mechanical agriculture leads to increased production and better social stratification. Technological advancements also open new economic fields, enhancing the social status of skilled individuals.

2. Modernization:

The modernity and innovatory level divert the attention of the individuals of society towards new, discoveries and inventions which create a passion for a better social life and efforts to increase income, become fast. There is rapid advancement in economic activities, new employments are created and the social position of individuals becomes a source of upward political mobility.

3. Improvement in Communication Means:

All means of communication are a course of social interaction, connections are increased, information is increased, new economic sources take place, new business is started, running a business is improved and production is increased. Rapid means of communication help in sending goods to the market and an increase in income affects social mobility.

4. Education and Social Awareness:

In such societies, where education is common and every individual has equal chances of getting an education, there is a facility for moving from an inferior position to a superior position. C. Heller based on his study has observed, that education is an important effective element in the inter-over intra-generational mobility.

In addition, the level towards social progress and consciousness of making life better are the important functions of social mobility to increase the chances of vertical mobility.

FACTORS RESPONSIBLE FOR SOCIAL MOBILITY

The following factors facilitate Social Mobility:

1. Motivation:

Each individual has a desire not only to have a better way of living but also to improve upon his social stand. In an open system, it is possible to achieve any status. This openness motivates people to work hard and improve upon their skills so that they can attain higher social status. Without such motivation and efforts on the part of the individual social mobility is impossible.

2. Achievements and Failures:

Achievement refers to extraordinary performance that attracts public attention. Not all achievements result in social mobility; remarkable achievements improve status. Failures and misdeeds affect downward mobility, such as fraudulent bankruptcy, which removes upper-class members from blue books, disqualifies them from marriage, and makes them ineligible for marriage. However, they do not become lower-class members.

3. Education:

Education not only acquires knowledge but also opens doors to higher-status occupational positions. For instance, to become a doctor or I.A.S. graduate, one must have a minimum formal education. In modern India, education enables Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes to change traditional occupations and achieve higher statuses.

4. Skills and Training:

Society provides skills and training to the younger generation, which requires significant time and money. Society incentivises these individuals, assigning higher social status and economic rewards. Completing training leads to better positions and social mobility, as it facilitates the improvement of positions and improves social status.

5. Migration:

Migration is a crucial factor in social mobility, driven by both pull and push factors. People migrate to new places for livelihoods, often due to a lack of opportunities or facilities in their current location. These migrants can improve their social status by working as farm labourers or owner cultivators. Pull factors attract people with necessary facilities, while push factors attract those with higher status and job opportunities. Both factors contribute to migration, enabling individuals to occupy higher positions and acquire new skills and knowledge.

6. Industrialization:

The Industrial Revolution introduced a social system where status was determined by ability and training, disregarding caste, race, religion, and ethnicity. Mass production led to artisans migrating to industrial towns, acquiring vocational training and moving up the social ladder, facilitating greater social mobility.

7. Urbanization:

In the cities, there are more people, and they have formal relations. People do not know each other intimately. Urban centres are marked by anonymity. People are close to their friends and relatives only. Urban settlements provide secrecy to an individual’s caste and background. An Individual’s position is largely dependent upon his education, occupation and income rather than his background. If an individual has higher education, income and is engaged in occupations of higher prestige, he occupies high social status irrespective of his caste. Urbanization facilitates social mobility by removing those factors which hinder social mobility.

8. Legislation:

New laws, such as the Zamindari Abolition Act and the Mandal Commission report, have helped improve social mobility in India. The Zamindari Act led to the conversion of tenant cultivators into owner cultivators, while the Mandal Commission report provided job reservations for Other Backward Classes. The judicial system, through the Hindu Marriage Act and Hindu Succession Act, has also enhanced women’s status and given equal rights to daughters in family property. These legal provisions contribute to social mobility in India.

9. Politicization:

Education, mass media exposure, and contact with political parties have increased people's awareness of their rights. They unite and force power to accept demands through agitations and strikes. Political parties provide concessions, improving social status. Some become political leaders, Ministers, Cabinet Ministers, or Chief Ministers, leading to upward social mobility. Greater political awareness also allows representatives in state assemblies and parliament to enact laws, benefiting lower segments of society.

10. Modernization:

Modernization involves the use of scientific knowledge and modern technology, promoting rationality and a secular way of life. It encourages people to abandon traditional occupations and adopt non-polluting ones, changing their social status. The level of development in a country also influences social mobility, with less developed societies maintaining traditional stratification and accretive statuses. Modernization facilitates social mobility, as it provides opportunities and competition while limiting the possibility of achieving certain statuses in developed countries.

Aspirations for social mobility can lead to frustration and mental and psychological problems. Social background, race, and ethnicity can either facilitate or hinder an individual's chances of achieving any status. Nations lacking social mobility suffer from stagnation and lack of development, resulting in both positive and negative consequences.