Adolescents’ perceptions of social mobility: Reasoning about intergroup friendship and marriage in Nepal

This study examined adolescents' reasoning about intergroup social class friendships and marriage in rural Nepal. Participants (N = 591; 54% girls; Mage = 14.03; 20% Nepalese ethnic/caste minority; data collected in 2018) evaluated the potential for friendship and marriage between hypothetical pairs from different social class backgrounds. Adolescents demonstrated a strong awareness of social barriers to equality and autonomy in social relationships, including concerns about family reputation. Nevertheless, a high percentage anticipated resisting negative parental expectations and expressed overall optimism about social change. Notably, adolescents' social experiences influenced their views: Those who had experienced discrimination were less optimistic, whereas those attending schools with high social class diversity were more optimistic about social mobility.