This thorough presentation focuses on social mobility in America. The presentation defines, provides examples, and explains social mobility at depth. Statistical evidence as well as a discussion of the importance of social mobility in society also covered.

1. Social
Mobility
in America
What is it? And why is it important?
By Latagia Copeland-Tyronce B.S.,A.S.

2. What is social mobility?

3. it is ……
The ability of individuals or groups to
move within a social hierarchy with
changes in income, education,
occupation, etc.

4. There are 4 main types of social
mobility

5. Vertical Social Mobility
Refers to when individuals and groups
improve their position in the hierarchy
(society) by moving upwards or when
their position worsens and they fall down
the hierarchy.

6. For Example
When individuals get into seats of political position;
acquire money and exert influence over others
because of their new status they are said to have
achieved individual mobility.
Or
when an aristocrat or a member of an upper class
may be dispossessed of his wealth and he is forced
to enter a manual occupation.

7. Inter-Generational Social Mobility
Refers to a change in the status of family
members from one generation to the next. It
is a change in status from that which a child
began within the parents, household to that
of the child upon reaching adulthood

8. For Example
When a farmer's son becoming an officer.
Or
When a construction worker’s daughter becomes a
lawyer.

9. Intra-Generational Mobility
Refers to the advancement in one's social
level during the course of one's lifetime.
It may also be understood as a change in
social status which occurs within a
person's adult career.

10. For example
When a person working as a supervisor in a factory
becoming its assistant manager after getting
promotion.
Or
When a person starts their career working a
manager in a retail store and becomes CEO of the
company.

11. Structural mobility
Refers to mobility which is brought about
by changes in stratification hierarchy itself.
It is a vertical movement of a specific
group, class or occupation relative to others
in the stratification system.

12. For Example
When historical circumstances or labor market changes leads to the
rise or decline of an occupational group within the social hierarchy.
Or
When an influx of immigrants may also alter class alignments -
especially if the new arrivals are disproportionately highly skilled or
unskilled.

13. Okay???

14. So what's the most relevant type in
America ?

15. The answer is……
“Inter-Generational mobility”

16. In others words…..
The biggest prediction of your social mobility in
America is the income/status of your PARENTS
income.

17. Others factors that contribute are…..
• Family structure
• Racial and economic segregation
• School quality
• Social capital
• Income inequality
• Social Politics

18. The reality is that…….
Here in America we are severely lagging behind
most other industrialized counties when it comes to
social mobility (being able pulling oneself out of
poverty). Australia, Finland, Denmark, France,
Italy, and Sweden, are way ahead of us.

19. So what's are the stats here?
• In America a child born poor (the bottom quartile) has
about a 8% chance of making it to the top (top quartile).
• That’s the same chance of making it to the top as it was in
1970’s.
• Location matters a lot (Charlotte, N.C. 4-5% and Salt Lake
City, U.T. about an 11%)
• 70% of poor people fail to ever make it into the middle
class.

20. In other words……
The rags to riches stories that we all hear about in
the media are the extreme EXCEPTION and not the
RULE. That’s why most of us will never meet
someone that was once dirt poor and is now a
millionaire or billionaire.

21. Surprised???

22. So why the misconceptions about
social mobility?
Because most Americans believe that
America is a Meritocracy.

23. What's a Meritocracy?
A meritocracy is a social system in which people’s
success in life depends primarily on their talents,
abilities, and effort. The idea of a meritocracy has
served as in ideology through the argument that
social inequality results from unequal merit rather
than prejudice or discrimination.

24. Why do Americans believe that we
are a Meritocracy?
Because Americans have held more fervently than
any other country the belief that ALL people no
matter their background can penetrate the elite as
long as they have talent, perseverance and
gumption.

25. So why is social mobility important?
Because it is one of the core principles of American society
but also because improving mobility can have substantial
implications for overall economic development. Children
from disadvantaged backgrounds naturally benefit directly
from higher levels of upward mobility, but affluent
individuals benefit as well, because upward mobility
contributes to economic growth both directly and
indirectly.

26. References
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/social+mobility
https://www.boundless.com/sociology/textbooks/boundless-sociology-textbook/stratification-inequality-and-social-class-in-the-u-s-9/social-mobility-76/types-of-
social-mobility-452-2421/
http://www.sociologyguide.com/social-mobility/types-of-mobility.php
http://www.slate.com/articles/double_x/doublex/2014/01/new_harvard_study_where_is_the_land_of_opportunity_finds_broken_families.html
http://www.salon.com/2015/03/07/the_myth_destroying_america_why_social_mobility_is_beyond_ordinary_peoples_control/
http://www.epi.org/publication/usa-lags-peer-countries-mobility/
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022103115000062
http://www.economist.com/news/united-states/21595437-america-no-less-socially-mobile-it-was-generation-ago-mobility-measured
http://www.npr.org/2014/01/23/265356290/study-upward-mobility-no-tougher-in-u-s-than-two-decades-ago
http://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/us-social-mobility-problem
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/howard-steven-friedman/class-mobility_b_1676931.html
http://www.economist.com/news/briefing/21640316-children-rich-and-powerful-are-increasingly-well-suited-earning-wealth-and-power
http://sociology.about.com/od/M_Index/g/Meritocracy.htm