Status Status Attainment and Attainment and Social MobilitySocial MobilityMain Question:Main Question:

How And To What Degree Do The How And To What Degree Do The Circumstances Of Birth Affect Your Circumstances Of Birth Affect Your

Later Status?Later Status?Ascriptive/Ascribed Ascriptive/Ascribed

CharacteristicsCharacteristicsAchieved CharacteristicsAchieved Characteristics

.516.516 .279.279

.310.310

.115.115

.410.410

.224.224

.394.394

.281.281

.859.859 .753.753

.818.818

Father’s Father’s EducatiEducati

onon

Father’s Father’s OccupatiOccupati

onon

First JobFirst Job

EducationEducational al

AttainmeAttainmentnt ACTUAL ACTUAL

OccupatiOccupationon

Blau and Duncan Blau and Duncan 19671967

.288.288.179.179

.246.246

.320.320

.152.152

.441.441

.859.859

.778.778

.654.654

Parent’Parent’s SESs SES

Mental Mental AbilityAbility

Wisconsin 1971Wisconsin 1971

SignificaSignificant nt

OthersOthers

AcademAcademic ic

PerformPerform..

.589.589

OccupatiOccupation on

AspiratioAspirationsns

EducationEducational al

AttainmeAttainmentnt

EducatioEducational nal

AspiratioAspirationsns

ACTUAL ACTUAL OccupatiOccupati

onon

.522.522

.218.218

.218.218

.768.768

.261.261.508.508

.808.808

.457.457

.792.792

Supreme court judge (85)Supreme court judge (85)Physician (82)Physician (82)Astronaut (80)Astronaut (80)

College professor (78)College professor (78)Lawyer (75)Lawyer (75)Dentist (74)Dentist (74)

Architect (71)Architect (71)Psychologist (71)Psychologist (71)Airline pilot (70)Airline pilot (70)

Electrical engineer (69)Electrical engineer (69)Civil engineer (68)Civil engineer (68)

Biologist (68)Biologist (68)Clergy (67)Clergy (67)

Sociologist (65)Sociologist (65)Accountant (65)Accountant (65)

Banker (63)Banker (63)

Banker (63)Banker (63)High school High school teacher (63)teacher (63)Author (63)Author (63)

Registered nurse Registered nurse (62)(62)

Veterinarian (60)Veterinarian (60)Police officer (59)Police officer (59)Actor or actress Actor or actress

(55)(55)Athletic coach (53)Athletic coach (53)

Journalist (52)Journalist (52)Professional Professional athlete (51)athlete (51)

Undertaker (51)Undertaker (51)Social worker (50)Social worker (50)

Secretary (46)Secretary (46)Real estate agent Real estate agent

(44)(44)Farmer (44) Farmer (44) Carpenter (43)Carpenter (43)

Plumber (41)Plumber (41)Mail carrier (40)Mail carrier (40)

Barber (36)Barber (36)Truck driver (31)Truck driver (31)

Factory worker (29)Factory worker (29)Store sales clerk (27)Store sales clerk (27)

Bartender (25)Bartender (25)Lives on public aid (25)Lives on public aid (25)

Bill collector (24)Bill collector (24)Cab driver (22)Cab driver (22)

Janitor (22)Janitor (22)Waiter or waitress (20)Waiter or waitress (20)

Bellhop (15)Bellhop (15)Garbage collector (13)Garbage collector (13)

Street sweeper (11)Street sweeper (11)Shoe shiner (9)Shoe shiner (9)

Duncan’s Occupational Prestige Duncan’s Occupational Prestige RankingsRankings

Determined By:Determined By:PayPay

EducationEducationAbstract Abstract ThoughtThought

AutonomyAutonomy

Determined By:Determined By:PayPay

EducationEducationAbstract Abstract ThoughtThought

AutonomyAutonomy

Dr. Pitt’s College Major Clusters Prestige Dr. Pitt’s College Major Clusters Prestige RankingsRankings

Number In Front Is Students’ “My” EvaluationNumber In Front Is Students’ “My” EvaluationNumber In Back Is Students’ “Society’s” EvaluationNumber In Back Is Students’ “Society’s” Evaluation

College Major Status Ratings

College Major Status RatingsALL

10

6

3

9

4

1

5

8

2

7

FEML

9

7

4

10

3

1

5

8

2

6

PRIV

10

7

3

9

4

1

5

8

2

6

MALE

10

6

3

9

4

1

5

8

2

7

PUBL

9

5

6

10

4

1

3

8

2

7

College Major Status Ratings

College Major Status RatingsALL

10

6

3

9

4

1

5

8

2

7

ANGL

10

6

3

9

4

1

5

8

2

7

ASAM

10

7

3

9

4

1

5

8

2

6

AFAM

10

7

2

9

3

1

5

8

4

6

LATN

10

7

6

9

3

1

4

8

2

5

.516.516 .279.279

.310.310

.115.115

.410.410

.224.224

.394.394

.281.281

.859.859 .753.753

.818.818

Father’s Father’s EducatiEducati

onon

Father’s Father’s OccupatiOccupati

onon

First JobFirst Job

EducationEducational al

AttainmeAttainmentnt ACTUAL ACTUAL

OccupatiOccupationon

Blau and Duncan Blau and Duncan 19671967

EDUCATIONEDUCATION(Your (Your

Education)Education)

.394.394.279.279

.818.818

.859.859

.115.115

DESTINATIODESTINATIONN

(Your (Your Occupation)Occupation)

ORIGINSORIGINS(Dad’s (Dad’s

Education Education and and

Occupation)Occupation)

Blau and Duncan Blau and Duncan 19671967

Basic ModelBasic Model

Sponsored & Contest Sponsored & Contest MobilityMobility

Contest MobilityContest MobilityContest MobilityContest Mobility• Elite status is the prize and you get Elite status is the prize and you get

there through there through MERITMERIT• Final Award is delayed as long as Final Award is delayed as long as

possiblepossibleSponsored Sponsored MobilityMobilitySponsored Sponsored MobilityMobility• Elite status is the prize and you get Elite status is the prize and you get there through there through

RECOMMENDATION of other elitesRECOMMENDATION of other elites• Recruits chosen early in order to control Recruits chosen early in order to control

their their trainingtraining

Sponsored & Contest Sponsored & Contest MobilityMobility“Contest” System “Sponsored” System

SYSTEM IS BASED ON Achievement Ascription

ELITE STATUS IS Earned Conferred

SELECTION FOR ELITE STATUS IS

Delayed as long as possible to permit a

fair race

Done “as early as practicable” to ensure control over training

SOCIAL CONTROL Futuristic orientation, norm of ambition

Socialization to appropriate roles, restricted access to

elite skills/customs

VALUE OF EDUCATION Schooling valued as a means of getting ahead

Schooling valued for cultivation of elite culture

Questions To ConsiderQuestions To ConsiderAverage Salaries, Full time Workers (CPS 2013)

 All

WorkersHS

DiplomaSome

CollegeAA

OnlyBA

Only

White 63,601 44,680 50,694 50,744 73,434

Asian 68,017 36,631 40,415 53,055 71,088

Latino 40,066 34,472 40,650 42,061 59,258

Black 44,438 34,789 39,495 41,014 55,185

Why are there racial differences?Why are there racial differences?

Do we really want to get rid of ascription?Do we really want to get rid of ascription?

Are diplomas/degrees just weed out Are diplomas/degrees just weed out mechanisms?mechanisms?

You “must” be 18 to take the GED. Why?You “must” be 18 to take the GED. Why?

Why are there racial differences?Why are there racial differences?

Do we really want to get rid of ascription?Do we really want to get rid of ascription?

Are diplomas/degrees just weed out Are diplomas/degrees just weed out mechanisms?mechanisms?

You “must” be 18 to take the GED. Why?You “must” be 18 to take the GED. Why?