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The mystery of social mobility: Why do some people rise from poverty to wealth?
Social mobility is a sociological term that describes the movement of individuals or families within and between social classes. This movement not only moves between different levels of society, but is also influenced by factors such as education, income and social background. With the changes in social structure, why some people can become examples of turning poverty into wealth has become a hot topic today.
Social mobility is not just about economic advancement, but also involves a multi-factor state corresponding to social status.
Social mobility can be divided into upward and downward movement. Among these, upward mobility is often seen as a model of “starting from scratch,” even though such cases are relatively rare. In modern society, due to the redistribution of educational opportunities and social capital, some people are able to change their social status through their own efforts. The American Dream embodies this phenomenon, but in reality, social mobility in the United States is actually lower than in other OECD countries.
Education is one of the main tools to promote social mobility, especially in cases of poor family background, where obtaining education becomes the key to breaking through social classes.
In economics, absolute mobility refers to a person's progress in education, health, income, etc., compared to the previous generation. Relative mobility, on the other hand, compares the mobility of people in the same category. The difference between the two is that access to education can give children from lower socioeconomic groups the opportunity to surpass their parents. Yet, the economic circumstances of many families limit their children’s educational opportunities, perpetuating an entrenched cycle of poverty.
According to available data, the average family income of low-income children has dropped significantly over the past few decades, while the average family income of children from high-income families has shown a relatively stable growth trend. This trend of inequality has resulted in higher barriers for children from low-income families in obtaining a good education, leading to unequal distribution of social resources.
Inequality in social status exacerbates the gap in educational attainment and success between different social classes.
What is even more worrying is that the correlation between social mobility and factors such as gender and race is becoming increasingly apparent. Studies show that in some countries, women's social mobility is significantly lower than men's, which is closely related to the lack of educational opportunities. Similarly, in the racial context, the difficulties that minorities face in upward mobility are frequently blamed for perhaps stemming from historical inequalities.
The analysis of social capital and cultural capital also reveals the impact these factors should have on social mobility. Social capital emphasizes the importance of interpersonal networks, while cultural capital emphasizes the role of education and skills in social class. Many studies have pointed out that families at the bottom of society face a lack of various resources, which limits their children's all-round development and academic achievements, further contributing to social inequality.
The scarcity of social and cultural capital results in high levels of suppression in the educational and life opportunities of children from low socioeconomic groups.
Furthermore, the concept of mixed housing attempts to address the divide between individuals of different socioeconomic statuses, but research shows that this does not necessarily promote greater social mobility. In contrast, the marginalization experienced by families living in lower socioeconomic classes exposes them to more social adversities, which worsen as wealth disparity increases.
In summary, the growth of social mobility is not only determined by individual efforts, but is also deeply influenced by social structure and institutions. In this complex intersection, how can we change the status quo and create more equal opportunities for everyone?
