In a meritocratic society, individuals are solely responsible for their economic standing, and structural factors such as race or gender have little to no impact on class mobility.

In a meritocratic society, the idea is that everyone has an equal chance to succeed based on their skills and hard work. This means that people believe if you study hard and work diligently, you can improve your economic status regardless of your background. However, this view can overlook important factors like race or gender, which can create barriers that make it harder for some people to move up the economic ladder. For example, a talented woman of color may face challenges in getting the same job opportunities as her white male peers, even if she has the same qualifications. Thus, while personal effort is important, structural inequalities can significantly affect class mobility and economic standing.