Explain Social Mobility.

Social mobility refers to the movement of individuals or groups within a social hierarchy or stratification system. It involves changes in social status, either upward (achieving higher status) or downward (experiencing lower status), often based on factors such as education, occupation, income, or wealth.

There are two main types of social mobility:

1. Vertical Social Mobility: This type involves moving up or down the social ladder within a single generation. For example, someone from a lower-income family becoming a successful professional or a wealthy individual experiencing financial setbacks and losing social status.

2. Horizontal Social Mobility: This type refers to changing positions within the same social class or status level. It may involve switching from one occupation to another with similar social standing or relocating to a different geographical area without significant changes in social status.

Social mobility is influenced by various factors including education, economic opportunities, inheritance, social networks, discrimination, and government policies. Societies that promote higher levels of social mobility tend to be more meritocratic, allowing individuals to achieve success based on their abilities and efforts rather than solely on inherited advantages. However, barriers to social mobility such as poverty, inequality, and systemic biases can limit opportunities for upward mobility, perpetuating social stratification and inequality.