Question 1

What are the two basic factors that allow for more or less mobility up or down the occupational hierarchy?
A) circulation mobility; structural mobility
B) intergenerational mobility; intragenerational mobility
C) inward mobility; outward mobility
D) none of these

Accepted Answer

Circulation mobility refers to changes in individuals' positions within the occupational hierarchy due to personal or family efforts, while structural mobility is due to changes in the economy or occupational structure that create new opportunities or eliminate old ones.

Question 2

Which of the following is NOT a reason that studying women's mobility presents a special set of problems?
A) unsure whether to compare daughters to mothers or fathers
B) Women's occupations tend to be different from men's.
C) Data on women's occupations are not as readily available.
D) If we see that many daughters of lower manual workers have moved "up" to white-collar work, are we looking at a difference between generations or between genders?

Accepted Answer

Data on women's occupations are not as readily available, making it difficult to study women's mobility comprehensively.

Question 3

Which is not an example of a lower manual occupation?
A) service workers
B) farmers
C) operatives
D) laborers

Accepted Answer

Farmers are typically considered to be upper manual or skilled manual workers as their work requires significant knowledge and expertise in various areas such as crop selection, soil management, and equipment operation.

Question 4

According to Chetty et al., what percentage of adults born in the 1980s earned more than their parents?
A) 25%
B) 50%
C) 70%
D) 90%

Accepted Answer

According to research by Chetty et al., only about 50% of adults born in the 1980s earned more than their parents, highlighting a significant decline in the American dream of achieving higher economic status than one's parents.

Question 5

Why were opportunities slimmer for the next generation entering the labor force during the Age of Growing Inequality?
A) Men and women were starting from a higher base in their parents' occupational distribution.
B) Economic growth was generally faster.
C) Circulation mobility was increasing.
D) School quality decreased for upper-middle-class children.

Accepted Answer

In the Age of Growing Inequality, men and women were starting from a higher base in their parents' occupational distribution, meaning that there was less room for social mobility and fewer opportunities for the next generation entering the labor force. This was due to the consolidation of wealth among the already affluent, resulting in a wider income gap between the rich and poor. Economic growth was generally faster, and circulation mobility was increasing, but these factors alone did not address the issue of income inequality. School quality decreasing for upper-middle-class children may have also contributed to this issue, but it is not necessarily the primary reason for the slimming opportunities for the next generation.

Question 6

Circulation mobility is not at work in modern societies.

Accepted Answer

Circulation mobility refers to the ability of individuals to move up or down the social ladder based on their own efforts and abilities. While there are still barriers to social mobility in modern societies, there are also many examples of individuals who have been able to achieve upward mobility through education, entrepreneurship, and other means.

Question 7

In recent years, upward social mobility has decreased and downward social mobility has increased.

Accepted Answer

Studies have shown that in many countries, including the United States, there has been a decline in upward social mobility and an increase in downward social mobility. This means that it is becoming harder for people to move up in social class and easier for them to fall down.

Question 8

There is a high level of occupational inheritance.

Accepted Answer

Occupational inheritance, also known as intergenerational occupational mobility or intergenerational social mobility, refers to the likelihood of a person's occupation being influenced by their parents' occupation. Studies have shown that there is a high level of occupational inheritance, particularly in industries such as medicine, law, and education.

Question 9

Women's occupational attainment, unlike men's, is not powerfully influenced by class origins.

Accepted Answer

Women's occupational attainment, like men's, is significantly influenced by class origins, as both genders experience the impact of socioeconomic background on career opportunities and advancement.

Question 10

Structural mobility is understood as a "zero-sum game," meaning some must lose for others to gain.

Accepted Answer

Structural mobility is not a zero-sum game. It refers to changes in the social hierarchy or class system, where individuals or groups may move up or down the ladder based on changes in society as a whole. This means that it is not necessary for some to lose in order for others to gain, as there may be increases or decreases in opportunities, education, or economic conditions that can affect different groups in different ways.

Question 11

Circulation mobility is understood as a "win-win" situation since some do not have to experience downward social mobility for others to experience upward social mobility.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Circulation mobility is understood as a "win-win"...

Question 12

A common way to measure intergenerational mobility is to compare the occupations of fathers and sons.

Accepted Answer

This is a commonly used method to measure intergenerational mobility, although there are other ways to measure it as well.

Question 13

Occupation is a convenient variable to use in sociological studies of social mobility because adults can more easily recall parental occupation than wealth or income level.

Accepted Answer

This is because occupation is often seen as a status symbol and is more stable over time than income or wealth, making it easier to track changes in social class over generations. Additionally, occupation is often linked to education level and social networks, which can also impact social mobility.

Question 14

According to the "outflow" table that starts with fathers and asks about the mobility of their sons, we learn that the higher the father's occupation level, the better the son's chances for occupational achievement.

Accepted Answer

The "outflow" table shows that there is a positive correlation between the father's occupation level and the son's occupational achievement. As the father's occupation level increases, so does the likelihood that his son will achieve a higher occupation level.

Question 15

The American Dream is dead.

Accepted Answer

The American Dream, defined as the belief that anyone, regardless of where they were born or what class they were born into, can attain their own version of success in a society where upward mobility is possible for everyone, is still alive but its accessibility and feasibility vary greatly among individuals due to economic, social, and political factors.

Question 16

In the Age of Growing Inequality, families have grown increasingly dependent on women's paid labor.

Accepted Answer

To cope with rising costs of living and stagnant wages, many families have had to rely on women's income to make ends meet. Women's labor force participation has increased over the years, making it more common for families to have two earners or for women to be the sole breadwinner. This trend has been particularly pronounced among low-income and minority families.

Question 17

Men's occupational attainment, like women's, is powerfully influenced by class origins.

Accepted Answer

Men's occupational attainment, like women's, is influenced by various factors such as education, skills, and personal characteristics, but class origins play a significant role in determining their career trajectories. Studies have consistently shown that individuals from privileged class backgrounds have greater access to resources, social networks, and opportunities, which enable them to secure higher-status jobs and better salaries. Conversely, those from disadvantaged backgrounds often face barriers such as discrimination, limited educational opportunities, and lack of connections, which compromise their chances of occupational advancement.

Question 18

The United States is a uniquely open society.

Accepted Answer

The United States is often described as an open society due to its democratic principles and cultural diversity, but it is not uniquely open as other countries also share similar characteristics.

Question 19

The concept of the American Dream was named in The Epic of America.

Accepted Answer

The concept of the American Dream was indeed named by James Truslow Adams in his book The Epic of America.

Question 20

Studying women's mobility presents special problems.

Accepted Answer

Women's mobility can be affected by a variety of factors such as cultural norms, safety concerns, and access to transportation. Additionally, women may have different travel patterns and destinations than men, which can make it difficult to gather and analyze data on women's mobility.

Quiz 6: Social Mobility: The Societal Context

What are the two basic factors that allow for more or less mobility up or down the occupational hierarchy?

Which of the following is NOT a reason that studying women's mobility presents a special set of problems?

Which is not an example of a lower manual occupation?

According to Chetty et al., what percentage of adults born in the 1980s earned more than their parents?

Why were opportunities slimmer for the next generation entering the labor force during the Age of Growing Inequality?