Final answer:
Social mobility refers to the ability of individuals to change positions within a social stratification system, experiencing either upward or downward mobility. Upward mobility can occur through factors like education or career advancement, while downward mobility can result from setbacks like unemployment or illness.
Step-by-step explanation:
Social mobility refers to the ability of individuals to change positions within a social stratification system. When people improve or diminish their economic status in a way that affects social class, they experience social mobility. Individuals can experience upward or downward social mobility for a variety of reasons.
Upward mobility refers to an increase or upward shift in social class. For example, earning a college degree, getting a job promotion, or marrying someone with a good income can lead to upward social mobility. On the other hand, downward social mobility occurs when someone moves from a higher socioeconomic class to a lower one, often as a result of business setbacks, unemployment, or illness.
Examples of upward social mobility include celebrities like Jennifer Lopez, Michael Jordan, and Stephen King who rose from modest beginnings to fame and fortune. However, it's important to note that relative to the overall population, the number of people who rise from poverty to wealth is very small.