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 or adults: (1) are aware of disparities in mobility based on race or heritage country, (2) integrate social identities intersectionally when making mobility inferences, and (3) awareness of disparities shapes resource allocation decisions? Across 4- to 9-year-old American children (N = 161, Mage = 7.07, 56.1% racial majority, 43.9% racially marginalized, 81 girls, 80 boys), and adults (N = 174; 56.1% racial majority, 43.9% racially marginalized, 136 women, 35 men, 3 non-binary), children and adults expressed awareness of group-based disparities in mobility, with some evidence of intersectional reasoning. Moreover, children’s awareness of disparities, especially invocation of structural explanations, were related to rectification of inequalities.