Social status
Social status refer to the position an individual hold or occupy within social institutions and society. Whereas, social roles are the responsibilities associated with a particular status. One may get confused to differentiate between social status and role. The basic difference between the interconnected terms is that, an individual hold or occupy status within certain social group whereas, he/she plays or perform the roles associated with his/her occupied status in a given social group. For instance, when a women give birth to a child she occupies the status of mother. On the other hand, mother role is to care for and love her child. An individual hold different statuses in distinct social institutions. For instance, one might hold the status of brother or sister — son or daughter — father or mother within institution of family. However, he might be manager, clerk, principal, teacher etc… at work.
Moreover, Social statuses of individuals are arranged in hierarchical order within a particular social group. Which grant some individuals more power than others. Those who stand at the top of hierarchical ladder obtain greater amount of power compare to others. The hierarchical order of social statuses determine the pattern of relationships and interactions among individuals in a given institution. For instance, within school Principal can formulate and amend school policies whereas, teachers cannot do so. Because school code of conduct (formal norms) grant different amount power to the staff in accordant to their statuses. Which authorize principle to formulate and amend policies however, do not authorize teachers to do so. These Disparities in power and authority establish the relationship of superior and subordinates among principle and teachers within school. Whereby, superior role is to make rules and subordinates are supposed to abide as well as execute these rules.
Sociologists have categorized social status in to two types these include, achieved status and ascribed status.
Achieved status
Status that is attained by individuals via personal efforts and social conduct is called achieved status. Achieved status could be good or bad being a doctor is achieved status so do being a criminal. Attainment of respectable status in a given society requires good education, job skills and normative behavior. Some individuals have the resources that are needed to achieve desired status. Whereas, others have to struggle to acquire resources that are required to attain given status. For instance, if an individual wishes to become a lawyer in future. He must graduate from law school to attain the status. Which require money and certain amount of study. If education of individual is financed by his parents, he merely have to put effort in studies in order to attain the status of lawyer otherwise, he has to study as well as earn money to achieve anticipated status. However, in both scenarios being a lawyer is achieved status.
Ascribed status
Status that is inherited and not anticipated by individuals is called ascribed status. Being a brother or sister — son or daughter is ascribed status. Unlike, achieved status an individual does not have to anticipate and make effort to hold ascribed status. However, being a father or mother is achieved status because individual choose to attain the status of mother or father. Moreover, ascribed status is fixed and inherited rather than alterable and anticipated. Sex and race are ascribed status because individual does not choose their sex and race but inherit it.
Written by; Khushdil Khan Kasi
