University : the fast lane : a study in socio-cultural status mobility amongst university students

Abstract

This is a scientific analysis of socio-cultural status mobility where university is presumed to be a major factor in an individual's process of socio-economic status attainment and consequently, socio-cultural status mobility. The hypothesis focuses on whether the students who attain socio-economic mobility through university are in fact, being socially and culturally accepted by the members of the higher social 'classes'; in particular the 'service class' members. This hypothesis is tested against a group of 50 ex-university students (both males and females) who graduated in B.A. (HONS) Business Management in the Faculty of Economics, Management and Accountancy, between 1991 and 1994. Educational attainment is held at a constant since all respondents (100%, N=50) terminated their studies at the University of Malta. The analysis confirms that the sample was clearly upwardly mobile, with 60% experiencing 'perfect upward mobility' having moved to the 'service class' (Goldthorpe, 1987), since their background is from the intermediate and working classes. The other 40% kept their parental socio-economic and cultural (service class) status, so their role can almost be described as 'ascribed'. They remained in the same social class of origin. Moreover, it resulted that these individuals (the 60%) became socially accepted, through a 'cultural integration' process, by the 'service class' category and sub-culture.