Social Mobility: the potential of a genealogical approach

Abstract

This paper highlights the potential of taking a genealogical approach to researching social mobility based on empirical insights, generated from a qualitative case study in a secondary school located in the South East of England. The study involved interviews with 42 students and the data leads to a deeper understanding of the role of families in inter and intra-generational social movement. We begin by highlighting some limitations in existing research on social mobility. Next the role of households and families in conditioning an individual’s identity, dispositions, aspirations and choices are emphasised. We then present findings from analysis of 42 genealogical work histories over three generations and explore the role of education and family background in shaping young peoples’ employment aspirations. We argue that education has had little impact on overall mobility rates and suggest that whilst education has a significant role in mediating social mobility, the importance of family context should not be overlooked.