The focus often tends to be on other factors such as the impact of poverty, place of birth or parental background on educational attainment.
Likewise, demographic characteristics including maternal age and education, household income or child's characteristics, such as gestational age at birth or ethnic background, did not differ between these two groups.
In the three databases, MSM were either asked about ethnic group, their country of birth, or their cultural background.
This paper fills this gap in the literature by analysing the impact that different types of cultural diversity – measured by country of birth, ethnic background or religion – have on well-being of people living in England.
Univariate analyses showed no associations between 'remaining silent' and the patients' social status, country of birth, their background of abuse or their health status.
Individuals from poorer social backgrounds at birth or in childhood have greater cardiovascular disease risk, independently of their adult socioeconomic position [10], [11].
Schools exist to help young people overcome the disadvantages of birth and background through hard work, talent and great teaching.
It is the golden key to the future, allowing people to rise above the circumstances of their birth and background.
His fellow Old Etonian Boris Johnson also exalts social mobility, though in his model it is making sure the right "cornflakes" get to the top of the packet; while according to Nick Clegg, the lack of social mobility is an "absolute scandal" and "we have to fight for a society where the fortunes of birth and background weigh less heavily on prospects and opportunities for the future".
Their plight reveals the extent to which it is still birth and background -- where you come from and who you were born to -- that matters far more in deciding your prospects than your talent or merit.
