social mobility

American  

[soh-shuhl moh-bil-i-tee] / ˈsoʊ ʃəl moʊˈbɪl ɪ ti /

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.

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social mobility Cultural  

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

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

Etymology

Origin of social mobility

First recorded in 1925–30

Example Sentences

This, along with growing inequality in Chinese society, places a heavy burden on low-income families, he added, which has made people "increasingly view education as the last channel for families and individuals to achieve social mobility".

From BBC

Charlie Dewhirst, who represents Bridlington and The Wolds, called on the government to publish a strategy to improve social mobility for young white men living in poorer communities.

From BBC

Osborne and Ribeiro-Addy were among several Labour MPs who said they backed scrapping tuition fees altogether to boost social mobility and make higher education more accessible.

From BBC

The Sutton Trust, a charity that aims to improve social mobility and address educational disadvantage, said that gaining a degree from an elite university was the surest way to improve social mobility.

From BBC

"But what we don't have is a coherent approach to social mobility as a useful concept that you can build a strategy around."

From BBC