Adopting an intersectional approach to study the development of group-based beliefs about upward social mobility

Are children aware of group-based disparities in upward mobility? This study asks whether children: (1) are aware of disparities in mobility based on race or heritage country, (2) integrate economic background with race (Study 1) or heritage country (Study 2) intersectionally when making mobility inferences, and (3) how their awareness of disparities relates to resource allocation decisions. Four- to 9-year-old American children (N = 161, Mage = 7.07, 81 girls, 43.9% racially marginalized) expected White Americans to be more likely to experience upward mobility than Americans of color, and children’s expectations for upward mobility based on heritage country depended upon family’s economic background. Finally, invocation of individual-based explanations for social mobility was negatively related to rectification of inequalities.