One of the elements of social structure you have studied in this chapter has been status. Sociologists view some statuses as ascribed, while they categorize others as achieved (see Figure 5-1 above). An ascribed status is "assigned" to a person by society without regard for the person's unique talents or characteristics. Generally, this assignment takes place at birth; thus a person's racial background, gender, and age are all considered ascribed statuses.
Unlike ascribed statuses, an achieved status comes to us largely through our own efforts. Both "bank president" and "prison guard" are achieved statuses. You must do something to acquire an achieved status.
Using the figure above as a guide, list some of your ascribed statuses and then some of your achieved statuses.
Ascribed Statuses
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Achieved Statuses
THINK ABOUT IT
1. In what ways do you anticipate that your achieved statuses will change over the next four years? In what ways do you think your gender and race/ethnicity might affect your current or future achieved statuses?
2. A master status is a status that dominates others, and therefore determines a person's general position within a society. What do you consider to be your master status? Why?