Social Mobility

Lesson 8-3

A. A

B. B

C. C

Section 5-Polling Question

A B C

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Social mobility refers to

A. Horizontal mobility

B. Vertical mobility

C. All of the above

Types of Social Mobility

• Mobility is the ability to move• Social mobility- the movement of people

between social classes• Three types of social mobility

– Horizontal-changing at the same social level– Vertical-when status moves up or down– Intergenerational- when vertical movement

takes place across a generation

Practice

Do 8-3 Interactive 1

A. A

B. B

C. C

Section 5

A B C

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If a doctor’s son becomes a social worker, what is this considered to be?

A. Horizontal mobility

B. Vertical mobility

C. Intergenerational mobility

Caste and Open-Class Systems

• Caste system- a stratification structure that does not allow for social mobility

• There is no social mobility because social status is inherited and can’t be changed

• statuses (including occupations) are ascribed, or assigned at birth

• Only marry within your caste

India’s Caste System

• Brahmin– Composed of priests and scholars

• Kshatriyas– Professional, governing, and military

occupations

• Vaisyas– Merchants and businessmen

India’s Caste System

• Sudra– Farmers and menial workers

• Untouchables– So impure that any physical contact

contaminates the religious purity of all other caste members

– So low not even considered on caste system– Collect trash and take care of dead bodies

India’s Caste System

• The caste system is maintained as a result of the power of the higher castes

• They use their political clout and wealth to prevent change

Apartheid

• Apartheid was a caste system in Africa based on race

Open Class System

• A system in which social class is based on merit and individual effort, movement is allowed between classes.

• Most Americans believe they live in an open class system

A. A

B. B

C. C

D. D

Section 5

A B C D

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The following are characteristics of a caste system EXCEPT

A. Marriage possible only within the same caste

B. Different castes may not eat together

C. Status is assigned at birth

D. Untouchables serve all food

Upward and Downward Mobility

• Early American generations raised on the rags to riches stories

• Lesson taught is any American citizen can work hard and persevere

• Few Americans make great leaps in social class

Upward and Downward Mobility

• After WWII, saw big increase in upward mobility– Explosion in high-paying manufacturing jobs

• Now U.S. companies seeking to lower their costs move companies to foreign countries

• More workers are experiencing downward mobility

Upward and Downward Mobility

• Downwardly mobile people experience lower self-esteem.

A. A

B. B

C. C

D. D

Section 5

A B C D

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Downwardly mobile people experience which of the following?

A. Lower self-esteem

B. Despair

C. Depression

D. All of the above