Residual Inequalities

Structural Trials and Relational Supports in the Face of Social Fragility in Mexico

Abstract

In Latin American societies marked by high levels of inequality and institutional fragility, individuals face structural demands that are expressed through persistent experiences of uncertainty and vulnerability. In this context, classical approaches to social stratification, centered on social position, are insufficient to account for differences in individuals' capacity to cope with these demands. This article analyzes the role of relational support in the experience of such demands, conceptualized within the sociology of social challenges as structural trials. Specifically, it examines positional inconsistency and the work-related trial. From a relational and situated perspective, the study empirically assesses the influence of ascribed and acquired factors—such as social origin, education, occupational prestige, social capital, and access to resources—on the intensity with which these trials are experienced. The analysis is based on a survey of 200 economically active individuals residing in Mexico City, whose data were examined using confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modeling. The results show that access to relational resources mitigates the experience of both trials, while social capital specifically affects positional inconsistency. The article contributes to reorienting the analysis of inequality toward its relational and situated dimension.