Social mobility refer to the shift in the social class from one tier to another, it can be upwards or downwards. When economic conditions of people alleviate or aggravate, which affects the social class is known as social mobility. Many sociologist have defined social mobility in different ways. Some of the important definition of social mobility are as follow. Fairchild have defined social mobility as, movement from one condition to another. According to Stephenson and Brede Meyer, when an individual or group move from one social status to another is known as social mobility. According to Horton and Hunt, social mobility refer to the shifting one social class to another. There are five types of social mobility, which are as follow, upward mobility, downward mobility, intergenerational mobility, intergenerational mobility and structural mobility.
Upward Mobility
Upward mobility refer to, when an individual improve their social status and class and work their way from the bottom to the top of social ladder. Upward mobility is not only confined to economic prosperity, other factor are involved too in upward mobility such as, education, occupation, skills and matrimonial confederation. Stephen king belonged to a humble background, he work as a janitor before his publication work. He changed his social class and status and moved upward from the bottom of social class ladder. There are many who worked their way up from bottom such as Jenifer Lopez, Michael Jordon and Oprah Winfrey.
Downward Mobility
Some people in the society move at the bottom of social class ladder. When the financial condition, health or business of individual deteriorate they may move from top to bottom on social class ladder. There can be a lot more reasons for moving downward from top on social hierarchy. One may experience downward mobility because of loss in business, or quitting education or job, or may be because of breakup or divorce.
Intergenerational Mobility
An individual who belong to upper class his parents may be middle class and his grandparents may be lower-class. The difference between the social classes of generation and generational change in social status and class is known as intergeneration mobility.
Intergenerational Mobility
The difference between the social classes of same generation members is known as intergenerational mobility. An individual belonging to upper class does not mean that, his siblings belong to same class or possess same social status.
Structural Mobility
Structural change refer to the social change, which enable the whole group to move upward or downward on social class ladder. Industrial revolution in west brought economic prosperity in the society families moved upward from the bottom of social class hierarchy. Their life style, status and class improved because of this development. However, when recession hit the region many people lost their jobs and businesses which deteriorated the economic and living condition of people. Many well-off family moved from top to bottom on social class hierarchy.
