Social Mobility in Education

What is social mobility?

• When your WiFi moves to a better class than you

• The ability to move up or down in social class

• Getting a first-class seat because you dressed fancy

• Changing your social media username

Which is a clear example of inter-generational mobility?

• You went from broke to brunching in Bali

• Your dog now lives better than you

• Your parents were janitors and you became a brain surgeon

• You inherited your grandma’s love for bingo

Intra-generational mobility is when…

• You climb the social ladder while still alive (not after you’re famous and gone)

• Your sibling gets promoted and rubs it in your face

• You age backwards like Benjamin Button

• You change your career every weekend

What’s meritocracy?

• A place where only people named Mary can succeed

• A society where success is based on talent and effort

• A secret Hogwarts house no one talks about

• A reality show where people compete with PowerPoints

Why do functionalists love social mobility so much?

• Because it makes everyone equally fabulous

• So the most skilled people can fill important roles

• Because they think rich people are naturally sparkly

• So schools can host competitions called “Mobility Olympics”

According to Harris (2005), what helps social mobility?

• TikTok fame

• Playing Monopoly without flipping the board

• Encouraging people to apply for better jobs via qualifications

• Changing your accent to sound rich

What is social closure, according to Breen (1997)?

• When someone shuts the group chat

• A party that ends when parents come home

• Keeping the top jobs and schools for the elite

• A ceremony for unfollowing toxic influencers

______ and Gintis argue that society uses 'sponsored mobility' where the middle and upper class benefit the most.