Horizontal Mobility
Horizontal mobility refers to the movement of an individual or group of people within the same social class and within the same situation category without changing their level of power or status. The concept of horizontal mobility is a type of social mobility that refers to being able to move between different places or professions without affecting the individual’s economic status, social standing, or lifestyle, or being able to move from one similar group or status to another.
Horizontal Mobility Example
An individual working as a teacher in a school changes careers and works as a coordinator in a nongovernmental organization. Even though the person changes positions, the person’s position in the social hierarchy does not change significantly. This means that the social status(hierarchy) of the individual does not change.
Difference between Horizontal and Vertical Mobility
Horizontal Mobility | Vertical Mobility |
| Horizontal Mobility is a type of Social Mobility where the movemennt of an individual or group of people within the same social class and within the same situation category does not change their level of power or status (hierarchy). | Vertical Mobility is a type of Social Mobility where the movemennt of an individual or group of people within the same social class and within the same situation category does change their level of power or status (hierarchy). |
| Horizontal mobility does not involve a major movement up or down the hierarchical ladder, so horizontal mobility cannot provide much insight into the nature of stratification in any given society. | Vertical mobility does involve a major movement up or down the hierarchical ladder, so vertical mobility provides much insight into the nature of stratification in any given society. |
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