Class inequality and social mobility in Northern Ireland, 1973 to 1996

Data from 1973 and 1996 are used to examine changes in the class structures and patterns of social mobility of Catholic and Protestant men in Northern Ireland. Specifically, this study investigates whether the disadvantaged c lass position that Catholics occupied under the Stormont regime (1922-1972) has been ameliorated and if so, to what extent. The class structures of Pr otestant and Catholic men have become more similar over the 1973-1996 perio d, and there has also been a decline in the importance of ascriptive featur es (e.g., class origins and ethnic group membership) in determining class p osition. For both Catholics and Protestants, advantages that in 1973 accrue d to those from favorable class origins were much reduced by 1996 Similarly , the advantages that Protestants held over Catholics, controlling for clas s origins, have been greatly reduced. Explanations for these trends are sug gested, and the implications of these trends for the extent of anti-Catholi c discrimination in Northern Ireland are discussed.