Statuses and Roles Correspond - Essay Example

Kinship is a very important factor in an ascribed status. Achieved status, on the other hand, is the kind of status wherein an individual earns or merits the status. An example of this is occupational status in which an individual becomes known, say, doctor because he chose and earned his status through time, education and the skills they possess. Status is important since along with it are the different set of rights, obligations, and roles of an individual are defined. While ascribed status is more of an association with your family and your group, race or economic standing, achieved status is more of an effort of the individual and is more fluid and changes over time.

My own status as a middle-class individual or part of the common people is associated with my financial standing in society. Living in a foreign land, my status as a foreigner gives me a reputation that I am not one of the people in this land and that I may seem different. Though through time, I have gained the status as a student and a manicurist, the roles and responsibilities assigned to be are limited by my ascribed status. Being a student also limits my roles, responsibilities, and opportunities since I have yet to go up the status ladder.