Prof. María Luisa Méndez, what is social mobility?
"Social mobility refers to the transition from one position to another within a society. While upward mobility implies moving up in social class, downward mobility entails moving down to a lower status. A successful upward trajectory can either lead to an economic gain or a gain in decision-making power. Both transitions have one thing in common: the change in status allows a change in access. People of higher status have greater access to valuable resources within a society. And due to its multidimensional nature, the value of higher status is also immensely symbolic. A person of an upper class is more likely to be recognised and credited. This fact adds to the unequal opportunities and obstacles that people of a lower socio-economic status face."
Why is it vital for a society to allow or even foster social mobility?
“In the past, according to the concept of meritocracy, resources were distributed based on effort and talent. Social hierarchies were accepted as they followed the belief that those who worked hard would be offered more resources. Currently, it is becoming apparent that meritocracy is not working as expected. The frustration of this empty promise lingers in large groups of society, especially in the Global South. People working incessantly are deprived of changing their situation while wealth is accumulating at the top – a fact often referred to as the ‘broken elevator of social mobility’. The political tensions resulting from these dynamics pave the way for unrest as key political and social institutions are discredited.”
What obstacles impede moving upward?
“The causes of unequal opportunities are multidimensional and complex. One obstacle is the increased competitiveness within the labour market. One’s qualifications are even more essential today than they were in the past. Secondly, some industries and economic sectors are nearly entirely inhabited by the dominant group, which tends to recruit peers rather than people outside their social class. A reason for this tendency lies in the unawareness of how subjectively a person views other people. A beautiful smile on a résumé picture stands for being able to afford expensive dental work, for example. Excellent references imply a powerful network to call on. A self-confident demeanour during an interview hints that the contestant was encouraged during childhood. All these indicators nourish a sense of confidence when hiring this person in contrast to pioneering with a ‘new’ contestant. Our interviews further substantiated that the embodied cultural capital (see box below) significantly affects how easy or difficult moving upward becomes.”
Consequently, what would facilitate a ‘social mobility-friendly’ society?
"If a society becomes more aware of the obstacles as a collectively shared and experienced phenomenon, it can actively shape a mobility-friendly environment. The private sector has a significant role to play in this respect. We plan to share our results, especially with the recruiting teams of big corporations. When we see the recruitment process through the lens of social mobility, upwardly mobile employees and collaborators can be incorporated more naturally for both parties.
Social mobility is not merely a result of quality education or fair opportunities. When we consider the cultural and affective aspects, it becomes evident how deeply collective this phenomenon is. We cannot see it simply as an individual journey of a single person. The ability to move up in society requires a whole community to act accordingly and openly."