Exploring Scottish Men's Social Climbs Over Time

Let's dive into how social mobility in Scotland changed for men between the late 1800s and the late 1900s. We're looking at new data that links the lives of young men in 1871 to their adult lives in 1901. This is then compared to men in their 30s and 40s in 1974 and 2001. The big surprise? Social mobility back in the 19th century was pretty high! Especially for those reaching the top jobs, known as the salariat. They came from all kinds of backgrounds, showing a society that was more open than we sometimes think.

Fast forward to 2001, and there's been a steady increase in social mobility. But here’s the thing: in both periods, sons often followed in their fathers’ footsteps, especially in declining industries. For instance, in 1901, many left agriculture, but in 1974 and 2001, industry was the place where tradition held strong.

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