Intergenerational Social Mobility in Slovakia

Paper offers actual findings on intergenerational social mobility in Slovakia, which is understood as mobility within a class-based stratification system. It relies on neo-weberian definition of social class and - based on theoretical and methodological reflection on the most used class schemas - it employs European Socio-economic Classification (ESeC). Authors distinguish between absolute and relative social mobility, referring to distinction between mobility induced by structural changes and social fluidity defined as chances to become a member of certain social class. Aim of the paper is to identify basic patterns of social mobility among men and women, including patterns of social mobility within different age cohorts. Presenting findings could contribute to filling the existing gap in this important field of sociological inquiry. In terms of absolute mobility, the most frequent form of mobility is represented by upward mobility, consisting mainly of "long" mobility. Among men, salariat and qualified manual workers represent classes with the strongest tendency to closeness. Among women, it holds true for salariat, lower professionals, and unqualified manual workers. In terms of relative mobility, chances to move within stratification system are unevenly distributed, especially at the top and the bottom of social structure. As result, identified "upgrade" of social class structure didn't lead to significant equalization of mobility chances to climb the stratification ladder.