Social Positions Statuses and Conflicts - Essay Example

Social Positions, Statuses and Conflicts There is evidence that the normal structure of any society is to the development of conflict. Such conflict results from the defined social positions and statuses that different people are bound to occupy. The societal structure is also keen to define the expectations of each social position or status. The role of such social positions is to primarily present a definition of an individual in relation to social space and determine the level of interactions with different people.

The society has multiple of these positions and has established varying attributes that define each of the positions. An individual does not only hold one social position, but numerous statuses. Each status has its obligations and set responsibilities that must be met by the individual said to occupy such a social position. Moreover, each social position has a distinct level of power and is associated with a range of potential interests. This only means that two people occupying different statuses are unlikely to share common goals and aspirations because of the differences in interest associated with each status.

This paper will explain this occurrence and present different life examples (Kornblum & Smith 89) When all the people in a society seek to abide by the obligations that define each status, conflicts tends to emerge. For example, a mother and her son each belong to different positions. At the position of a mother, it is natural to exhibit interest in seeing one son become successful by making the right choices. On the other hand, the son may have a completely different interest that involves seeking autonomy and pursuing his goals without interruption.

This may include marrying the girl of his choice without prior considerations of her character. Both statuses present each individual with a legitimate interest. However, as each person acts according to the obligation defined by the status, they are likely to have a conflict (90). Sometimes meeting the demands of an individual status can prove challenging because there might be a conflict between the responsibility that define two positions held by one person. For example, as a doctor (one status) I am expected to respond to emergencies during the night.

As a father and a husband, I am also required to be at home with my family. Evidently, both cannot be done at the same time, resulting in a status conflict. Sometimes, I make efforts to finish up my emergencies in the shortest time possible so that I can rush home and see my family. However, I always find them sound asleep. This is an evident status strain because I struggle to meet all the obligations through prioritization (91). In other cases, the conflict may result because of pressure exerted by two different members within one social role.

As a doctor, I am supposed to attend to a patient with immediate effect. However, I receive a summon from the doctor in charge. This makes it difficult for me to fulfill both responsibilities at the same time because of the resulting role conflict. Although the doctor in charge has more power and needs to be obeyed, the status of the patient would be a determining factor in solving the conflict. Therefore, I would be relying on ethical principles to solve the conflict. In some situations, I am compelled to create a balance between the responsibilities resulting from two members of my role set.

However, I do not achieve the very best in each case. For example, I have to attend a parents meeting in my daughter’s school on the same day scheduled for my son’s graduation. These responsibilities conform to my status as a father. I chose to pass by my daughter’s school and get a briefing of the meeting and proceed to attend my son’s graduation, but I arrive late (92). This is what sociologists have referred to as role strain. Work Cited Kornblum, William, and Carolyn D. Smith. Sociology in a Changing World.

Belmont, CA: Wadsworth Cengage Learning, 2011. Print.