Social Position in Society
Student’s Name
Institutional Affiliation
Ascribed statuses are the involuntarily assumed standings that a person is assigned at birth (Neeley & Dumas, 2016). My age is an example of an ascribed status. Similarly, I cannot choose my family’s birth order; my birth position is also ascribed. Also, ethnicity is determined by fate before one is born. On the contrary, achieved statuses are earned positions depending on merit or the choices they make in life (Neeley & Dumas, 2016). My popularity among my fellow students, my position in-class tests and my aspired profession are examples of achieved statuses.
I have been working part-time in a children’s home to complement my parent’s financial support. I have earned respect and prestige from my peers and family members for serving the less fortunate. On the contrary, my earnings have been low, decreasing my status on the other end. My situation depicts an inconsistency in my status. Respect and prestige give me a positive image in society, increasing my status. The little earnings are the opposite; they grant me a low status.
An individual’s primary association characteristic is the master status (Neeley & Dumas, 2016). I frequently identify as a student. Since childhood, I have looked forward to joining college and interacting with my peers, being in a position to make decisions for myself. In most cases, the people around me seem to impose a different master status on me, an athlete. The imposition may be due to my frequent participation in college athletics and the many trophies that I have earned our institution.
During the sports season in school, I experience role strains. Balancing between the hectic practice sessions and catching up on class content has often proved challenging. Although the two parts of my college life are essential in building my personality, I struggle to choose between homework and training. Apart from granting me a chance to represent my college, athletics helps me keep my physical health checked. On the other hand, studying can build my personality through my interactions with my classmates and shape my future.
Reference
Neeley, T. B., & Dumas, T. L. (2016). Unearned status gain: Evidence from a global language mandate. Academy of Management Journal, 59(1), 14-43.