Social Status

Social status is the position or rank of a person or group, within the society and can be determined in two ways. One can earn their social status by their own achievements, which is known as ACHIEVED STATUS.

Alternatively, one can be placed in the stratification system by their inherited position, which is called ASCRIBED STATUS. Ascribed status can also be defined as those that are fixed for an individual at birth. Ascribed statuses that exist in all societies include those based upon sex, age, race ethnic group and family background. For example, a person born into a wealthy family characterized by traits such as popularity, talents and high value will have many expectations growing up. Therefore they are given and taught many social roles as they are socially positioned into a family becoming equipped with all these traits and characteristics.

Achieved status means also what the individual acquires during his or her life time as a result of the exercise of knowledge, ability, skill and/or perseverance.

 Occupation provides an example of status that maybe either ascribed or achieved; it can be achieved by one gaining the right knowledge and skill to become socially positioned into a higher position of that job, building a person’s social identity within the occupation.

As full gospel business men and women we have a status, a unique one at that, we are men and women who represent God and the whole host of heaven in business and in life. The question is this, do you know it? What have you done about it? Are you striving to achieve higher status or are you content with the ascribed status you already have?

Written by:

Enyinnaya Ofoegbu