Anna and her family live in an apartment in a low-income neighborhood. Though they have enough money for heat and food, Anna can't afford many of the things her friends have, like new clothes, streaming services, and fieldtrips. Her family's income is below the median income in her city. Which concept best describes Anna's situation?
Table of contents
- 1. Introduction to Sociology46m
- 2. Research Methods in Sociology43m
- 3. Culture22m
- 4. Society and Social Interaction20m
- 5. Socialization and the Life Course46m
- 6. Groups and Organizations35m
- 7. Media and Technology15m
- 8. Deviance, Crime, and Social Control43m
- 9. Social Stratification in the U.S.40m
- 10. Global Inequality8m
- 13. Relationships, Marriage, and Family Coming soon
- 14. Education25m
- 15. Religion19m
- 16. Government and Politics Coming soon
- 17. Work and Economy Coming soon
- 18. Health and Medicine Coming soon
- 19. Urbanization, Population, and Environment Coming soon
- 20. Social Movements and Social Change Coming soon
9. Social Stratification in the U.S.
Social Stratification in the U.S.
Struggling with Sociology?
Join thousands of students who trust us to help them ace their exams!Watch the first videoMultiple Choice
Which of the following is an example of structural mobility?
A
Cory loses his job and has to move to a smaller apartment to make ends meet.
B
A community is forced to relocate after a flood, resulting in the loss of their homes, jobs, and other assets.
C
Jess gets promoted after years of dedicated work at the local bank.
D
Anna changes careers but stays within the same pay grade.
Verified step by step guidance1
Step 1: Understand the concept of structural mobility. Structural mobility refers to changes in social status or class that result from shifts in the larger social or economic structure, rather than individual efforts or choices.
Step 2: Analyze each example to determine whether the change in social status is due to individual actions or broader societal changes.
Step 3: Identify that Cory losing his job and moving to a smaller apartment is an individual experience, not necessarily caused by structural changes.
Step 4: Recognize that Jess getting promoted and Anna changing careers are examples of individual mobility based on personal achievements or decisions.
Step 5: Note that a community being forced to relocate after a flood, losing homes and jobs, is an example of structural mobility because it results from external social or environmental forces affecting the entire group.
Watch next
Master Class System in the U.S. with a bite sized video explanation from Hannah Gordils
Start learningRelated Videos
Related Practice
Multiple Choice
