Women and social mobility in rural Spain

Abstract

One of the effects of the process of modernization is increased opportunity for individuation and, consequently, for social mobility, where meritocracy and acquisition are more relevant than ascription. This is clearly the case in Spain, although there have been few studies which relate it to gender and the differences that may exist between dwelling places. Using data from a survey for the International Project on Structure, Biography and Class Consciousness, this paper shows that there are significant differences between the sexes and where they reside during the mobility cycle. Furthermore, contrary to expectation, meritocracy plays a prominent role among women who live in rural areas.