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We call it the “American Dream,” but it is shared around the globe. People everywhere have the desire to make their lives better for their tomorrow. Upward mobility is the ability of a person to better their own situation, and the term usually refers to a higher level of income, higher social status and a better standard of living.
Several factors play a role in determining a person’s upward mobility. Obviously, education and a job or career with a chance for advancement are critical factors. But social factors also play a huge role in a person’s ability to better themselves in terms of wealth, status and standard of living.
In the U.S. and many other countries around the world, women tend to have less opportunity for moving up in the world than men. Also, minorities in any given country are less likely to have the ability to advance. Unfortunately, the playing field is not yet level for many players.
Discrimination plays a large part in keeping women and minorities out of better jobs and often educational facilities. It is still not widely accepted that women and minorities are as capable, driven or entitled as the majority males. Opening the door to real change means a huge move toward acceptance and better democratic practices around the world.
In the Kazakhstan Democracy, for example, people are working their way out of poverty, learning to take advantage of their wealth of natural resources and striving for equality among the people. The U.S. isn’t the only continent where democratic principles are valued and pursued.
