Intergenerational social mobility: The relevance of family and labour-market dynamics for studying the mother–daughter line

This chapter emphasizes the importance of mothers and daughters in research on intergenerational social mobility. It calls for understanding the influence of mothers on daughters’ decisions and careers, considering factors such as increased female labour force participation and changes in gender dynamics within families. The chapter aims to highlight the need for a gender-focused approach and to re-evaluate standard categories used to define social mobility and labour market participation. It provides an overview of barriers to women’s career development, highlights the impact of caregiving roles and suggests areas for future research. Moreover, it discusses improvements in data collection for studying intergenerational mobility in a gender perspective. Overall, the chapter emphasizes the changing dynamics and the role of mothers in interpreting daughters’ work and family paths, underscoring the need for gender considerations in understanding women’s working trajectories and social mobility.