Discuss the similarities and difference between social movement and social mobility
Social movement and social mobility are two distinct concepts in sociology, but they share some similarities and differences.
Similarities:
1. Both concepts deal with social change and transformation. Social movement refers to collective actions aimed towards political or social change in society, while social mobility talks about changes in the social status of individuals or groups in society.
2. Both concepts are critical to understanding social stratification. Social movement focuses on changing unequal social relationships, while social mobility highlights the mechanisms that enable or hinder individuals or groups to ascend or descend the social caste.
3. Both concepts involve a process of upward or downward movement. In social movement, this upward movement is about challenging the status quo and attempting to bring about a new social order. In social mobility, it is upward movement in the social hierarchy, i.e., from lower to higher status.
Differences:
1. Nature - Social movement is usually collective and occurs when a group of people come together to advocate for social change, while social mobility describes the movement of individuals within the social hierarchy.
2. Scope - Social movement aims to bring about change in a particular group or society level. Social mobility, on the other hand, is concerned with individual mobility whether its an aristocrat or working-class person.
3. Timeframe - Social movement is often a long-term process and may take several generations to actualize, while social mobility is a shorter-term affair, with individuals moving up or down the social hierarchy through education, occupation, etc.
4. Frequency - Social mobility occurs to individuals at different points in time, and at different rates, depending on their social background and opportunities. Social movement, on the other hand, is not so frequent, and usually occurs when individuals feel there are injustices in the system.
In summary, social movement and social mobility share similarities concerning social change and transformation, and both relate to social stratification. However, social movement seeks to change or transform the existing social system, while social mobility addresses individual movement within the social hierarchy.