Can people move between social classes, and what helps or hinders this?
The concept of social mobility, the difference between open and closed systems and between upward and downward mobility, and the factors that help or hinder movement between classes.
A focused answer on social mobility for WJEC GCSE Sociology: open and closed systems, upward and downward mobility, intergenerational and intragenerational mobility, and the factors that help or hinder it.
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What this dot point is asking
This dot point covers social mobility: the movement of people up or down between the layers of society. You need to define mobility, distinguish open systems (where movement is possible) from closed systems (where it is not), explain upward and downward mobility and intergenerational and intragenerational mobility, and describe the factors that help or hinder movement between classes. This shows how open or closed a stratified society really is.
What social mobility is
Open and closed systems
Types of mobility
What helps and hinders mobility
Try this
Q1. Explain the difference between an open and a closed system of stratification. [Knowledge recall]
- Cue. In an open system, such as the class system, movement between classes is possible because position is based partly on achievement, while in a closed system, such as caste, movement is not possible because position is fixed at birth.
Q2. Explain one factor that can help upward social mobility. [Short explanation]
- Cue. Education and qualifications can help upward mobility, because gaining good qualifications can give a person access to higher-paid, professional jobs and so move them into a higher social class than the one they were born into.
Exam-style practice questions
Practice questions written in the style of WJEC exam questions on this dot point, with worked answer explainers. The year tag is the paper they imitate, not the source.
WJEC (Component 2)2 marksExplain what is meant by 'social mobility'.Show worked answer →
A short knowledge question (AO1). Reward a clear definition with development.
Definition. Social mobility is the movement of people up or down between the layers, or classes, of society.
Development. It is possible in an open system, such as the class system, but not in a closed system, such as caste.
Top marks. A precise definition plus the open and closed distinction earns both marks.
WJEC (Component 2)6 marksExplain factors that can help or hinder social mobility.Show worked answer →
An explain question (AO1 and AO2). Reward developed factors on both sides.
Helps. Education and qualifications, a growing economy with more skilled jobs, and hard work can move people up.
Hinders. Poverty, poor schooling, discrimination and a person's class background can hold people back.
Top band. Developed factors that help and factors that hinder, showing what affects movement between classes.
Related dot points
- The concept of social stratification, the main systems of stratification including the class system, and how social class is defined and measured in modern Britain.
A focused answer on social stratification for WJEC GCSE Sociology: the concept of stratification, systems such as the class system, slavery, caste and feudalism, and how social class is defined and measured.
- The link between social class and life chances, the difference between wealth and income, and the meaning, measurement and causes of poverty in modern Britain.
A focused answer on social class and life chances for WJEC GCSE Sociology: how class shapes life chances, the difference between wealth and income, and the meaning, measurement and causes of poverty.
- The concepts of power and authority, the difference between power and authority, and the three types of authority: traditional, charismatic and legal rational.
A focused answer on power and authority for WJEC GCSE Sociology: the difference between power and authority, coercion versus consent, and Weber's three types of authority - traditional, charismatic and legal rational.
- The factors affecting educational attainment: how social class, gender and ethnicity are linked to differences in achievement, and the home and school explanations for these patterns.
A focused answer on factors affecting attainment for WJEC GCSE Sociology: how social class, gender and ethnicity link to achievement, and the home (material and cultural) and in-school explanations.
Sources & how we know this
- WJEC GCSE Sociology (Wales) specification (C200QS) — WJEC (2017)