Social mobilitet i Storbritannien: udfordringer og regional ulighed

In generation after generation, the state of social mobility has become more and more obtainable. This is a natural matter of course by the evolution of modernism, which is constantly developing. The class-system that has been valid for many generations has been broken in the majority of western-civilised countries. However for this system of modernism to continually flourish, it is difficult for some sections of the population not to be left behind. Great Britain is currently experiencing a distinct regional divide in social mobility, due to the lack of quality in tools for the disadvantaged in the hierarchy. It brings a great issue to an entire generation of young people. Subsequently this development could lead to a step backwards in history of equality in obtainability for social mobility, as the class-system becomes more valid again.

Britain has always shared the values of economic liberalism, which gives possibilities for the individual to obtain their goals in life. Although this method seems to be in everyone’s favour, it furthers a class-system with larger obstacles for the lower- and middle-income families. Through worse quality of education and thereby lower quality and quantity of job possibilities, the inequality in social mobility raises. The annual report from the government’s social mobility commission found that there is a significant difference in the level of social mobility between regions. It is possible that Britain is starting to experience some of the negative aspects of urbanization, as the outskirts are being left behind. The idea that individual goals are equally obtainable to everyone is vanishing. Currently the obstacles for a person without the right amount of financial support to receive a high education are almost inhuman, as journalist Poppy Noor accounts for through her personal experience. She will like the majority of her generation have acquired a debt for her education, whilst barely being able to afford her everyday expenses. Besides working as a waitress she sublets her room for rental expenses and lives with her boyfriend and his mother. Additionally she spends unnecessary extra hours travelling because she cannot afford the train. Furthermore many occupations nowadays require living in one of the larger cities. Professions in the media most frequently occur in London, the most expensive city in the country. In addition, to secure such a job without the right contacts often requires an unpaid internship. As a result, people from Poppy Noor position have to work long hours in part time job while studying or taking an internship. Thereby making it very difficult for people from the outskirts to progress from their position. There is a clear distinction between the state of wealth in north and south Britain. Regions in Wales, Northern- Ireland, Northeast and West-midlands England have 50% working population savers with less than ?100. These regions are likewise the ones with lowest percentage of children gaining A*-A in their GCSE’s. The educational system is the most obvious obstacle to upward social mobility. There is a clear contrast in that children on free school meals are less likely to achieve good grades at school. Similarly these children are ones less likely to attend a top university or to even pursue higher studies, which would acquire them high earning job and hence move them upwards on the social scale. Inequality on the labour market, unaffordable housing prices and regional economic inequality simply adds to the foundational obstacles, which stems from the educational system.