Żyromski, Marek2013-02-082013-02-082001Roczniki Socjologii Rodziny, 2001, tom 13, s. 45-550867-2059http://hdl.handle.net/10593/4385Undoubtedly, family forms one of the most important social institutions. Certainly, family can be described also as the channel of social mobility. So, the theoretical base for this article was formed by the sociological theory of social mobility, created by Pitirim Sorokin - American scientist of Russian origin. First, the main currents and types of social mobility were presented, for instance as the horizontal and vertical social mobility. Later this article deals with many examples of social mobility in the history of Western civilization. These examples were presented in strict connection with the institution of family, which certainly forms one o f the most important channels of social mobility.plArtykuł