Intragenerational Versus Intergenerational Mobility...
Intragenerational Versus Intergenerational Mobility in Relation to Sociopolitical Attitudes
Author(s)
Lopreato, Joseph; Hazelrigg, Lawrence
Abstract
Recent work in stratification has suggested that the extent to which vertical mobility influences sociopolitical attitudes depends on whether the mobility is intergenerational or intragenerational. In an effort to clarify previous statements of the issue, we suggest that (1) the validity of the proposition depends in turn on the manner in which mobility is conceptualized, and (2) any differences between the two types of mobility can be interpreted in terms of differential resistance to resocialization into the political perspectives of the class of destination. Using survey data from Italy, and focusing on upward mobility, according to one specific conceptualization of mobility, the intragenerational achievers are found to be more resistant to resocialization into middle-class political perspectives than intergenerational achievers. Explanation of this finding makes reference to the selection processes of formal education and to the obstacles encountered in career ascent.
