social mobility

[ soh-shuhl moh-bil-i-tee ]

noun

1. Sociology. the movement of people in a population, as from place to place, from job to job, or from one social class or level to another.

social mobility

1. The ability of individuals or groups to move upward or downward in status based on wealth, occupation, education, or some other social variable.

Notes

American society operates on the principle that an individual's achievements can be rewarded by upward social mobility.

Word History and Origins

Origin of social mobility¹

First recorded in 1925–30

Example Sentences

While all generations have been affected by the crisis, youth face exceptional risks with new barriers to education and social mobility, as well as mental health strain.

From Time

The consumer dissatisfaction with tech giants dovetails with China’s growing wealth gap and an increasing lack of social mobility.

From Fortune

The Dream in question isn’t the mythological notion that upward social mobility is within reach for all hardworking Americans.

From Vox

A social mobility tool aimed at lifting up socioeconomically disadvantaged communities, this program targets students from kindergarten through 12th grade and offers modules in areas ranging from investment basics to budgeting and banking.

From Ozy

Income inequality decreased, but also social mobility increased.

From Freakonomics

In this American dream, we move where the jobs are to realize social mobility.

From The Daily Beast

But as a model of economic fairness, or of the role of universities in social mobility, it is unsatisfying.

From The Daily Beast

As for social mobility, Tocqueville wrote at a time when American industry was in its infancy.

From The Daily Beast

Both generations of meritocracy are tied to good things: hard work, high standards, social mobility.

From The Daily Beast

Given our growing social calcification, the need to boost growth and social mobility is great.

From The Daily Beast

The gentry society was, therefore, a comparably stable society with little upward social mobility but with some downward mobility.

From Project Gutenberg

But some of the branch families, created often by the less able family members, show a tendency towards downward social mobility.

From Project Gutenberg

Individual freedom did not show itself only in greater social mobility.

From Project Gutenberg

Social mobility was most possible in the towns, where distinctions were usually only of wealth.

From Project Gutenberg

However, there was much social mobility between adjacent classes.

From Project Gutenberg