INTERGENERATIONAL CLASS MOBILITY AMONG WOMEN AND MEN

Marxist class analysis has largely ignored the investigation of social mobility and at times has openly rejected it as an object of social analysis. This paper defends the importance of mobility research for class analysis. It then uses Wright's neo-marxist conception of class structure to investigate intergenerational mobility among Australian women and men. Drawing upon data from 'The Class Structure of Australia Project', the paper describes the volume and nature of mobility, and presents more detailed findings about the mobility regime which underlies observed patterns. Such 'relative mobility rates' reflect class-specific advantages and disadvantages which shape the opportunities of people from different class backgrounds to move into some destinations rather than others. The gendered nature of these patterns is highlighted.