Social mobility, as conceptualized by Vanessa Andreotti, refers to the shifting dynamics of individuals or groups within a societal structure, navigating the systemic barriers and opportunities that define access to resources, power, and status. Andreotti emphasizes that this movement is often portrayed through a neoliberal lens, promoting meritocracy and individual effort while masking deeper structural inequities perpetuated by colonial and capitalist frameworks. Genuine social mobility should thus be critically examined not only as a matter of personal progression but as embedded within larger, historically rooted power relations that systematically advantage some while marginalizing others. By unraveling these layers, Andreotti calls for a transformative understanding that challenges dominance and fosters equitable structures for all.

See also: economic justice, power relation, human right, global south, global north