Dr Sophie Louisa Bennett Aug 23, 2018:

Like upward mobility... Can't tell if there is an element of social climbing here. Släkt just says to me 'family' and therefore in this case the opposite of nepotism. Social climbing seems a negative term, which possibly doesn't fit with Scandinavian concepts of equality and being able to climb the ladder without relying on nepotism. I also like the term 'preferment'. Upwardly mobile is suitable if you want connotations of Becky Sharp-style ambitions!

Deane Goltermann Aug 23, 2018:

Social climber has a negative connotation, your text talks positively of the people involved, which describes their upward mobility. This term fits in your sentence without changing much. 'Climbing the social latter' describes what the individuals did. My references should answer your question in detail.

SafeTex (asker) Aug 23, 2018:

@Deane and Anders thanks for that. I wasn't so much after a term (although I'll consider your suggestions fo course) rather than knowing if the expression meant a or b or both in this context.