Discuss the causes and consequences of social mobility.

Social importance of mobility consists of its positive consequences, They are also referred to as the "gains of mobility" or “benefits of mobility." The so called gains of mobility may be briefly examined here.

(i) Social Mobility Provides Opportunity for the Expression of Individual Talents: As P.M. Blau and O.D. Duncan have pointed out social mobility makes it evident that a talented individual is bound to achieve “social ascendance” by means of his talents and efforts irrespective of the stratum to which he belongs, According to them, social mobility becomes inevitable if the most important functions of the society are to be performed by the most capable persons.

(ii) Acts as a Safety-Valve: According to S. M Upset and R. Bendix, providing opportunity for social mobility virtually means creating a “safety valve to escape from the dangers. Since the lower classes are provided with an open chance to enhance their social statuses or to enter into the status positions of other upper class people by means of their performances; they do not normally organise themselves to dislodge the upper-class people of their statuses. Social mobility becomes inevitable and essential from this point of view.

(iii) Social Justice: D. V. Glass and others have felt that providing equal chances or opportunities for social mobility for all social classes is a democratic commitment. According to them, a democratic society has to depend upon “an egalitarian opportunity structure”.

(iv) Job Satisfaction: Social mobility1s inclusive of occupational mobility also. Most of the instances of social mobility are occupational in character. In the traditional societies (for example, traditional caste society) occupations are normally hereditary in .character and hence children are obliged to follow the occupations of their parents whether they have a liking for it or not. Now in modern industrial society things are different.

People need not stick on to their parental occupations. They have a vast opportunity and freedom to change their occupations. This opportunity for job selection or change has contributed to their job satisfaction.