Types of Status
Statuses are culturally defined, although they may be based on biological factors such as sex, caste, or race. Ralph Linton (1936) has noted two types of status:
1. Ascribed Status
Ascribed status is the social status a person is assigned at birth or assumed involuntarily later in life. It is a position that is neither earned nor chosen but assigned. These rigid social designators remain fixed throughout an individual’s life and are inseparable from the positive or negative stereotypes linked with one’s ascribed status. According to Linton, ascribed status is “assigned to individuals without reference to their innate differences or abilities.”
2. Achieved Status
Achieved status is a social position a person takes on voluntarily that reflects both personal ability and merit. An individual’s occupation tends to fall under the category of an achieved status, for example, a teacher or a firefighter. Linton described status as “requiring special qualities and open to individual achievement.”
0 Comments