Social Status and Roles

• Status

  The position that someone has in society, such as a pupil, friend, son or daughter
• Ascribed Status

  A position that someone is born into that cannot be easily changed such as gender or ethnicity
• Achieved Status

  A position that someone gets through choice and/or effort such as a teacher or a doctor
• Roles

  The norms that are expected to follow. These are expectations that surround the performance of a role, or expectations that are shared by others
• Role Conflict


  When there is a conflict between the different roles in terms of what they demand from us. The norms and values of each status may sometimes clash.