Mapping the social class structure: From occupational mobility to social class categories using network analysis

TY - JOUR

T1 - Mapping the social class structure

T2 - From occupational mobility to social class categories using network analysis

AU - Toubøl, Jonas

AU - Larsen, Anton Grau

PY - 2017/12/1

Y1 - 2017/12/1

N2 - This article develops a new explorative method for deriving social class categories from patterns of occupational mobility. In line with Max Weber, our research is based on the notion that, if class boundaries do not inhibit social mobility then the class categories are of little value. Thus, unlike dominant, theoretically defined class schemes, this article derives social class categories from observed patterns in a mobility network covering intra-generational mobility. The network is based on a mobility table of 109 occupational categories tied together by 1,590,834 job shifts on the Danish labour market 2001–2007. The number of categories are reduced from 109 to 34 by applying a new clustering algorithm specifically designed for the study of mobility tables (MONECA). These intra-generational social class categories are related to the central discussions of gender, income, education and political action by providing empirical evidence of strong patterns of intra-generational class divisions along these lines.

AB - This article develops a new explorative method for deriving social class categories from patterns of occupational mobility. In line with Max Weber, our research is based on the notion that, if class boundaries do not inhibit social mobility then the class categories are of little value. Thus, unlike dominant, theoretically defined class schemes, this article derives social class categories from observed patterns in a mobility network covering intra-generational mobility. The network is based on a mobility table of 109 occupational categories tied together by 1,590,834 job shifts on the Danish labour market 2001–2007. The number of categories are reduced from 109 to 34 by applying a new clustering algorithm specifically designed for the study of mobility tables (MONECA). These intra-generational social class categories are related to the central discussions of gender, income, education and political action by providing empirical evidence of strong patterns of intra-generational class divisions along these lines.

KW - Faculty of Social Sciences

KW - Class analysis

KW - Cluster analysis

KW - Intra-generational social mobility

KW - Methodology

KW - MONECA

KW - Social network analysis

KW - Social class

KW - Class theory

U2 - 10.1177/0038038517704819

DO - 10.1177/0038038517704819

M3 - Journal article

SN - 0038-0385

VL - 51

SP - 1257

EP - 1276

JO - Sociology

JF - Sociology

IS - 6

ER -