Going with what your interpretation, I would consider wording it like that to be obfuscation by the author. The author is clearly arguing from a left wing viewpoint, and wants to emphasize lack of social mobility. Fine, but then the author is using an exaggerated and wrong feeling to emphasize this point, even though reality might not be that bad.
Like you say, if people do feel like this then it's important to understand it. But there is a big difference politically between saying poor people feel unable to improve their situation, and that poor people actually are unable to improve their situation.
Like you say, if people do feel like this then it's important to understand it. But there is a big difference politically between saying poor people feel unable to improve their situation, and that poor people actually are unable to improve their situation.