Intragenerational mobility
Intergenerational mobility

Changes in occupational structure over time set the range of opportunities
        ® kinds of occupations
        ® concentrations in occupations
                radical ¯ of farming population; 1993—3%
            ­ in blue collar to about 40%
                huge ­ in white collar to nearly 60%

Occupational inheritance is dominant pattern
        Reproduction of blue and white collar occupations
        2/3—3/4 inherit SES
        semi-permeable boundaries
Downward mobility limit
        Prestige of white collar occupations
        Lack of saleable manual skills
Upward mobility limit
        Lack of white collar skills
        Lack of respect for white collar work

Social mobility is pervasive for a smaller proportion
        Industrialization and the opening of upward mobility opportunities
                Upward mobility from craft to white collar work
        Short movements more likely than jumps
                Some jumps

Industrialization and not ideology generally determine rates of mobility
        Convergence thesis—insofar as important differences are excluded
        National differences occur in rates of mobility
        Similarity of rates of mobility in the U.S. and other similar countries

Does hard work lead to success?
        If you start with advantages:
                Educational credentials
                Human, cultural and social capital
                Wealth
        If you start with disadvantages:
                Possible but unlikely

Structural determinants of mobility:
        Industrialization—exert upward pull to fill slots
        Lower fertility rate of upper groups pulls up some lowers
        Upward push of immigration
        Discriminatory practices

Ascribed status vs. achieved status
        Parents’ influence on child’s achievement
                Education, occupation and income
        Child’s intellectual ability
                Affects educational and occupational achievement
                Child’s education is strongest predictor of mobility
        Quality of child affects response of others
        Aspiration level affects achievement potential
        Parental SES probably more influential than child’s ability
        The credential counts!
        Daughters’ attainment more related to mothers’

What is going on in schools for different classes?
        Tracking
        Teacher response to child
        Value conflicts
                Delayed gratification
                Self responsibility