For none of us knows that in any society there is a so-called social ladder.This is a hierarchy to the location of her individual layers of the population.Some social groups are on the ladder above, some - less.Some people throughout their lives do not leave the boundaries of their social stratum.They stand on the same rung of the ladder.Others climb or descend through it.However, the movement is very slow.
concept of social lift
In any society, certain prerequisites are present, allows rapid movement from one section of the population to another.Ideally, this motion is directed upwards.Although there are cases of sudden move to a lower level.This is a social elevator.The definition of this concept was given by Pitirim Sorokin.This Russian-American sociologist at the beginning of the twentieth century has analyzed the movements of different social groups to its status.Thus Sorokin was calculated, in which cases the data move will allow the person to grow in this life.The theory has been very convincing, because it was drawn from life - individual, family comes from drunks craftsman living in a small village in the Russian North.
Sorokin argued that a person, in order to grow, you must find its own channel mobility (social elevator).This will pretty quickly to change the existing status.
Channels mobility
In theory Sorokin, completely different for each person can be a social elevator.Types of channel mobility include a list of the following items:
- army;
- the church;
- education (school);
- family;
- business (property).
In today's world mobility channels added to the civil service, sports, politics and the arts.Everyone who wants to change their status should find their social elevator.This will start the whole mechanism of ascent and start moving.Of course, you can not use the elevator and stairs.However, it will take too much time and would be a very tedious process.
kinds of mobile
Change group or individual of their class or place in society can be both horizontal and vertical.The first type of mobility is the transition from one social status to another.This social lifts, examples of which - a change of nationality, the transition to a different religious community.
Under the vertical mobility refers to the movement of people (up or down) the ladder.It is also included in the concept of "social elevators."Examples of such movements:
- promotion (upward mobility);
- demotion (downward mobility).
on vertical and horizontal channels of status changes is influenced by various factors.Among them, the density of population and mortality rate, birth rate, age and gender.Elevators social mobility is most often used by young people.Seek to change their status and many men.The limited mobility consists mainly of elderly men and women.
transition from one layer to another company can be carried out either in a group or alone.It is also different social elevators.Types of mobility in this case divided into individual and group.
collective social elevators exist in the case of existing caste, race, class or any other privileges.In this case, the lower population groups are able to organize a rebellion in order to abolish existing restrictions for her.This will collectively rise to a higher rung of the social ladder.Examples of this type of social mobility can be found throughout the history of mankind.It also received superior caste of priests of Varna warriors in ancient India, as well as the rise of the Bolsheviks after the October Revolution to the status of the former Tsarist aristocracy.
Modern social lifts include the concept of upward mobility.However, their definition is given is not in the service context.Changing the status of an individual or group is understood as a change of position in the social hierarchy.
main channels of mobility
movement of people from one social class to another is present in every country.Sometimes it uses social elevator.This reduces the gap by moving one of the stairs to the next.
What channels exist for such mobility?The so-called social circulation is made possible with the assistance of various institutions.They list the channels are of particular interest.It is the army and the church, the school, as well as economic, professional and political organizations.These social lifts typical for any society.
Army
particular importance this institution has in wartime.These are periods when there are civil and inter-state armed conflicts.The success in war depends directly on the fate of the whole of society.And it does not matter what the social status of the soldiers have.Their courage and strategic talent are especially appreciated during such periods.Progress in command of the lower ranks during the war takes place, usually in the presence of leadership talent.The power given to these people, and then used to further advance up the career ladder.In addition, it allows you to plunder and pillage, to revenge, to humiliate their enemies, as well as receive high-profile titles, bathe in luxury and be in the center of the pompous ceremonies.Army in this case is a social elevator.This allows commoners to become generals to receive the status of princes, monarchs, dictators and rulers of the world.At the same time, many of which are on the status of the birth of aristocrats, kings and rulers, their titles and status are losing.
Similar examples of social mobility are numerous.They are literally full of story.Thus, the rulers and the leaders became leaders of militant tribes.Besides from ninety-two thirty-six Roman emperors we reached such a high status only because of their military service.
Examples of social mobility observed in the modern wars.Many leaders of the civil and international armed conflicts rapidly climbed the corporate ladder.But at the same time, a huge number of military commanders who were defeated, demoted, were excluded, became slaves, in other words, fell sharply, made a downward movement of the army social mobility.
Regarding the years of peace, the role of this channel of upward mobility in times less.However, the career is present naturally in a given period.
Church
At all times, this channel social mobility was second in importance.However, its maximum role the church played only in the periods when the social role it flourishes.This is confirmed by the history of Christianity.In those periods when there was the most intensive growth of the significance of the church, it is the most easy way to change the social status.This channel mobility and raised slaves and serfs.And the ascent was carried out at times to the most influential positions.
social elevator This often becomes a means for the downward movement.An example of this can serve as heretics, pagans, criminals and enemies of the church.All of them have been destroyed, ruined, or brought to justice.It is known that in the list of people have been demoted kings and dukes, princes and lords, that is, representatives of the aristocracy.
social mobility in modern societies also include the church.However, its importance and the role of mobility has consistently reduced.That movement, which takes place inside the church stairs, the former values have not already.
Religious organizations
role of social lift in society has not only a church.It can be attributed to the functions of other religious organizations.Their list includes religions of Judaism, and Taoism, sects and so on.. In times of increasing their influence, they allow their members to grow not only within the institution, but also in society as a whole.This gave the opportunity to those people who had a simple origin, rise to the highest social steps.A vivid confirmation of this is the life of Muhammad and his first followers.
School System social mobility at all times included the institutions of education and training.In those countries, where the school is available for all sectors of the population, it is an excellent channel mobility to move up.If such education receives at each, it can be compared with an elevator, moving only on the upper floors of a public building.
Examples of social mobility when movement occurs across the vertical, especially evident in modern European countries.In these states, no one will be able to take any significant position without completing a university or college.Graduates with an excellent diploma, is able to easily move up the social ladder and occupy responsible positions, regardless of their origin.
limited mobility - those who do not have a diploma on obtaining the relevant knowledge.For such people, a number of closed professions.In addition, their work, compared with the work of skilled professionals, are paid less.
Educational social elevators in modern society provide sufficient ease in moving.This fact was understood by many.No wonder the number of people willing to go to universities and colleges is growing steadily.
Examples of social mobility, which is made possible by obtaining certain knowledge, are numerous.However, the most striking of these is the caste society of ancient India.It is in the period of its existence and knowledge, researchers evaluated especially high.They were even elevated to a second birth, is more important than the physical birth.
Political organizations
All organizations - from political parties to the government - are one of the channel mobility of the individual.To move up the social ladder in many countries is sufficient to enter the civil service.Over time, there is sure to automatically move up the career ladder.In addition, the clerks or the officials whose work is appreciated especially high, the chance to have a more rapid recovery with the help of the social elevator.
This fact is confirmed by history.Many people born in the families of artisans, peasants or servants, were able to rise up and take the most visible public positions.This pattern can be observed today.The career path of many public figures began with a lower-level official.
Professional organizations
It is also one of the channels of upward mobility.Professional organizations can be attributed literary and scientific and artistic institutions.Entrance to these is free to all those who have certain abilities.At the same social status does not matter.This channel mobility has become a tool for raising many doctors and scientists, lawyers, artists, actors, singers and so on. D.
specific kind of professional institutions and important kind of social elevator is printing.In today's world we are seeing the increasing role of the press.The printed word helps to ensure excellent career outstanding personality.
organization created wealth
Regardless of the specific forms of enrichment, these institutions in any society are social elevators for lifting individual vertically.The leaders still primitive tribes became more rich people.And this pattern can be observed throughout the history of mankind.The analogy between the nobility and wealth is broken only in exceptional periods, such as during the revolution.However, this situation will soon end.The impoverished know certainly assign values.Ways for this may be different, up to fraud and abuse.And people who have become rich, buy or achieve benefits.
striking example of this was the rise of the bourgeois class.During his appearance began to seek high positions, those who had money.Notable class rose from the lower strata of society, just as the brave knights once grew.
Family
One common channel mobility of the individual is married with a representative of a higher social status.The consequences of this are twofold.Sometimes marriage leads to the rise of a man, and sometimes - to its degradation.In the olden days the marriage concluded with members of the lower stratum of society, led to the fall of the social order, who held a higher position.For example, in Rome, it was legitimized by the fact that the servant who married a free woman she became a slave.
Conclusion
Besides all these there are many other channels.At all times, the social elevators transporting the flow of people up and down the vertical society.But those who have not even tried to get into one of these lifts, forever remain in the lower strata.
social mobility exist in every society.They have different shape and scale, but humanity needs to the same extent as the blood vessels of the living organism.
