What is social mobility primarily concerned with?

Social mobility is primarily concerned with the ability of individuals or families to move up or down the social hierarchy, which is commonly referred to as changing social class. This concept encompasses not only the movement between different economic classes but also the broader implications such as access to education, employment opportunities, and social networks that facilitate or hinder this movement. The ease with which individuals can change their social class reflects the dynamics of society, including factors like economic conditions, social policies, and cultural context. While changing one's profession can be a part of this, social mobility specifically focuses on shifts in social status rather than purely occupational changes. The stability of societal structures and the transfer of wealth between generations are related concepts, but they do not capture the essence of social mobility as accurately as the potential to change one’s social class directly does.