What term describes the movement of individuals or groups up and down the social hierarchy through the class system?

• A. Social Mobility
• B. Equality of opportunity
• C. Meritocracy
• D. Life Chances

Answer: (A)

Social mobility is the movement of people up or down the social ladder, meaning their position in the class hierarchy changes over time. This can happen across generations (intergenerational mobility), like children achieving a different social position than their parents, or within a person’s life (intragenerational mobility), such as moving from a low‑paying job to a higher-status career through education or new opportunities. In a class-based system, mobility shows how open or rigid that hierarchy is and can be influenced by education, job markets, economic conditions, and social networks.

Other terms describe related ideas but not the actual movement itself. Equality of opportunity is about having fair chances to succeed, not the actual changes in position. Meritocracy is a principle that rewards go to those with merit, which can shape expectations about movement but doesn’t define the movement itself. Life chances refer to the broad chances people have to access resources and opportunities, rather than the concrete rise or fall in social position.