Social mobility is the ability to change an individual or family’s socio-economic status by moving up or down the “social ladder” - this can be in relation to their parents (intergenerational mobility) or throughout their lifetime (intra-generational mobility).
In this article, we will explore social stratification, the hierarchy of structural social strata (status), and how current education systems limit social mobility, opportunity, and quality of life, in which we must provide an avenue for equal opportunities for the less privileged.
Why is the current educational system unfair in providing equal opportunity?
Due to intergenerational financial status, geographical location, and parental education backgrounds, social class, social stratification, and education are all closely interwoven and connected, constructing a negative reinforcing cycle that limits upward social mobility. By exploring these three components, we, as a society, can pinpoint what we must change to reduce and lessen the growing disparity between the rich and poor.
Much of the educational differences can be derived from parental financial status, as high-income families can afford to send their children to private schools, which have greater prestige and higher quality of education than their low-income counterparts. They may also have the extra money to send their children to tutoring centers or extra support sessions outside of the school curricula, providing them with the help they need to excel academically. This continues as these upper-class families can gain better admissions support for their children, resulting in them getting into better schools and thus getting higher-paying jobs.
Secondly, geographical location may also impact the quality of education, especially for public schools, as public schools located in low-income communities, statistically, have lower test scores and teaching standards than those in high-income areas. The surroundings and environment may also impact the morals of students and individuals. For example, low-income living areas may experience more crime and theft, which could negatively impact young people residing there, as they are taught that these actions are tolerated because they need the money or that individuals can do this for fun.
Thirdly, parental education is also a component in determining social class, as parents with better jobs and higher incomes can impart their children with better knowledge of the changing working environment, thus providing them with skills better suited to the future of the economy and society. They may also possess legacy status from prestigious institutions, influencing the likelihood of their children attending the same college or university, thus reinforcing the cycle of upward social mobility and disparity.
For example, the university admissions tests are an excellent example of economic inequality that carries forward into education, as higher-income families can provide their students with expensive test prep to ensure they get as high of a score as possible to get into prestigious universities. Differences in education can lead to a difference in job quality and opportunities, as youth from more privileged backgrounds are able to develop their skills in an increasingly digital world - one to which those from disadvantaged backgrounds will have less access. This continues the existing cycle of inequality - social barriers will rarely be broken due to pre-existing conditions and advantages.
(Above) The difference in salary in comparison to educational certifications
How can education shift social hierarchy?
As mentioned above, the three limiting factors are financial disparity, geographical differences, and parental education. Although these problems can not be solved with education itself, as it is a part of the deep-rooted structure of society, education can provide a foundation for reducing greater inequality.
This can be achieved through making education accessible to everyone, regardless of socio-economic, gender, ethnicity, or geographic differences, via public policies, higher education budgets for more disadvantaged communities, and greater intermingling of students from different socio-economic classes.
Education gives individuals the opportunity to gain knowledge, discipline, and communication skills that benefit their success in their future careers. By possessing these skills, individuals’ employability then increases, enhancing their ability to adapt to changing economic conditions, especially with the rise of AI and automation. Education allows individuals to break intergenerational barriers and the cycle of poverty for low-income households, thus increasing their chances of upward social mobility and providing a better quality of life for generations to come.
Policymakers must invest in education as a means to general upward mobility, especially for those less privileged, preventing them from falling back into poverty - this then creates a positive reinforcing cycle for the next generations, when parents can continuously provide their children with better opportunities than them.
Explore more about the subject
John Goldthrope’s “education-based meritocracy” explains a merit-based approach to higher education to offset the role of social class in determining economic outcomes.
Works Cited
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