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Social Mobility Paper

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Social Mobility Paper

Lori Bair

University of Phoenix

Soc/100

Dr. Audrey Morrissette, PhD.

July 27, 2010

Workshop #5

Social Mobility

Social mobility refers to the degree to which an individual's family or group's social status can change throughout the course of their lives through a system of social hierarchy or stratification. Social mobility refers to the likelihood that a child will grow up into adulthood and attain a higher level of economic and social wellbeing than his/her family of origin (Little, D. 2009). The purpose of this paper is to reflect on the similarities and differences between myself, my parents and my grandparents in regard to various stratification variables such as: education, religion, income, occupation, area of residence, consumption patterns, and political participation. What caused the differences, have they changed or influenced my attitudes and behaviors. Last I will explain how these differences change my life from how it was when I was young.

Similarities and Differences

The similarities between my parents and me are obtaining our high school diploma, attended college, stable job, and always had income. The similarities between my grandparents and me are getting our high school diploma, attend church service, Republican Party and always had income. The differences between my parent and I are we don’t believe in the same religion. I am a Christian and my dad is of a Jewish religion. I live in Jacksonville and my father lives in Kendall, Florida and my mother lives in California. My political participation is with the Republican Party and my parents are with the Democratic Party. The differences between my grandparents and me are they never went to college and I attend college, my grandma only worked at a high school until she retired and my grandpa only worked at a bank until he retired. I have many jobs after that I have been working since the age of 14. My grandparents lives in Pomona Park, Florida and I live in Jacksonville, Florida. The extent I was downwardly mobile is the time my parents separated when I was child and the distance between us. These are the similarities and differences between my parents, grandparents and me.

Differences exist

The differences may existence from my grandparents living in a different generation then my parent and me. My grandparents did things differently in their generation then what my parents did their generation and the generation that I live in. What could cause the difference is times have changed throughout the years but the people don’t want to get into the newer generation.

Attitudes and Behaviors

My parents and grandparents have had the same job for many years and with my job history, my attitude has changed and when I get my degree and career job that I will stay at the workplace until I retire just like my parent and grandparents did. My parents and grandparents both get retirement plans and that’s what I would want to have when I stay at the job for years and get a retirement package. My parents both got their college degree and I am following in their footsteps. My father practices in the Jewish religion and when my parents separated my mother went back to being a Christian and I did the same. I changed my attitude on what religion to practice when my parents separated and is a devoted Christian.

Differences change my life

When I was young I didn’t know there was a difference in religious beliefs, how education was so important in getting a good job, acquiring a job to retire from that it is so important when it is time to retire, and that there was a difference in democratic and republican party. It has changed my life when I was young knowing that these things can make an impact on your life. I made many changes in my life and I am happy with the choices that I have made.

Conclusion

In conclusion, your parents and grandparents can make a big impact in your life. You can learn a lot from your parents and grandparents that can help with making decisions on your future. Changes will be made throughout your life that will be affected by decisions that are made. I have discussed the similarities and differences between myself, my parents and my grandparents in regards to various stratification variables such as: education, religion, income, occupation, area of residence, consumption patterns, and political participation. What caused the differences, have they changed or influenced my attitudes and behaviors. Last I explained how these differences change my life from how it was when I was young.

References

Little, D. (2006) Understanding Society. Social Mobility? Retrieved on July 24th, 2010 from

http://www.understandingsociety.blogspot.com/2009/08/social-mobility.html

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