Sociology Class: Ascribed vs Achieved Status

Questions and Answers

Race and sex are both examples of ascribed status.

True

What are some examples of achieved status?

Being a professional athlete, becoming a lawyer, elected as President, and being a parent.

How are ascribed and achieved status similar?

They both have rights, obligations, behaviors, and duties that people of certain positions are expected to perform.

How are they different?

Ascribed status is beyond an individual's control; it is not earned or chosen, while achieved status is earned or chosen and reflects a person's skills, abilities, and efforts. Signup and view all the answers

What does status describe?

Status describes the position a person is in. Signup and view all the answers

Becoming the new King is an achieved status.

False Signup and view all the answers

When do people perform their roles?

When interacting with one another. Signup and view all the answers

What are your achieved and ascribed statuses?

Being a teammate, a student, a friend, a son/daughter, an honor student, a manager, a pilot, etc. Signup and view all the answers

Achieved and ascribed status form roles that individuals use to carry out their entire lives.

True Signup and view all the answers

Why is it important to learn these two statuses?

(Answers may vary) It is important because these statuses form aspects of life that we need to learn about and be informed about for practical application. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Ascribed vs Achieved Status

Ascribed Status: A social position assigned at birth or involuntarily acquired, such as race and sex.
Achieved Status: A social position that is attained through personal effort, skill, or choices, like being a professional athlete or parent.

Similarities

Both statuses come with specific rights, obligations, behaviors, and duties expected of individuals according to their social position.

Differences

Control: Ascribed status is beyond individual control and is neither earned nor chosen; achieved status is earned or chosen based on individual capabilities and efforts.

Role Performance

Individuals perform their roles during interactions with others, reflecting their statuses in social settings.

Examples of Status

Personal statuses may include roles such as teammate, student, friend, son/daughter, honor student, manager, or pilot.

Importance of Understanding Status

Learning about ascribed and achieved status is crucial for navigating social interactions and responsibilities appropriately in life.

Description

Test your knowledge on ascribed and achieved status with these flashcards. Explore how they differ and the examples of each. This quiz will help reinforce your understanding of social status concepts in sociology.