EXPLORING SOCIAL STRATIFICATION AND MOBILITY: INSIGHTS FROM MEDICAL STUDENTS AT DOKUZ EYLÜL UNIVERSITY

Authors : İbrahim Kaya, Arif H. Çımrın, Hande Bahadır

Pages : 257-292

Doi:10.59572/sosder.1709051

View : 109 | Download : 280

Publication Date : 2025-11-26

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :Social mobility remains a central concern in sociological research, particularly in relation to the role of education in shaping individuals\\\' social positions and status. Modernization theory posits that educational institutions facilitate upward vertical social mobility by providing equal opportunities for advancement. However, critical conflict approaches challenge this assumption, arguing that educational systems perpetuate existing inequalities and contribute to the reproduction of an inegalitarian stratification order. Empirical investigation is essential to assess these competing theoretical claims, particularly in research on social mobility and educational opportunity. This study examines intergenerational social mobility among students at the Faculty of Medicine, Dokuz Eylül University, employing both quantitative and qualitative research methods. By measuring mobility across three generations—comparing the education, occupation, and income of grandparents, parents, and children in terms of education, occupation, and income—our findings reveal that while elements of both modernization theory and its critique hold empirical validity, neither framework remains immune to critical reassessment. This study thus contributes to a more nuanced understanding of the complex relationship between education and social mobility, challenging deterministic accounts of either structural constraint or unrestricted mobility.
Keywords : Eğitim, Modern toplum, Tıp, Hekim, Sosyal Hareketlilik, Sosyal Tabakalaşma

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