Each person in society simultaneously acts in several roles. At home, we can be parents or children, at work - subordinates, in the store - buyers. Social status is a person’s place in society, in a hierarchical structure, which correlates with the position of other people.
Since each person simultaneously has several statuses, sociologists have introduced a general concept of “status set”. This set includes the entire set of statuses of a particular person. For example, Petrovsky L. (36 years old) is at the same time: the son of his parents, father for his son, husband, sibling and cousin, driver of the car, head of sales, shopper in shops, etc. In each status set, there is a main status with which a person identifies himself. It is this status that determines his lifestyle, social circle, manner of behavior. For L. Petrovsky, this is the head of the department. Most people also identify mainly by professional affiliation.
The types of social statuses are heterogeneous. Some are unchanged, others change throughout life, and not always according to the will of man. Social statuses can be:
- natural born;
- acquired or achieved;
- prescribed or attributed.
Inborn social statuses are nationality, gender, race. Sometimes there are inborn statuses that can change. For example, a member of the royal family may lose status if the monarchy turns into a different kind of state.
Acquired social statuses change and form throughout life based on the personality’s abilities, its aspirations, and competition. For example, a successful or unsuccessful student, a chain of subordinates - a boss - a large leader, etc.
It is acquired statuses that are most often associated with the concept of social prestige. Social prestige is the significance that public consciousness ascribes to different aspects of people's lives. High social roles (leaders, politicians, well-off people, etc.) are considered prestigious. Sometimes prestige does not depend on personal efforts. For example, beauty is considered prestigious. However, this innate quality can be changed. Today, there are many beauty institutes in which you can change your appearance, tailor it to any image that is relevant today. And the appearance corresponding to fashion trends, and the very ability to do expensive plastic surgery in society is considered prestigious. People working in large organizations (for example, Rosneft, Gazprom, large banks) have a high reputation. The professions of jewelers, lawyers, doctors, etc. are considered prestigious. People with such opportunities, professions have high social prestige.
The concepts of authority, respect, social influence are closely connected with the concept of social prestige. The desire for high social prestige is justified by the desire of the individual to assert himself, to achieve wealth, and public respect. Prestige is nothing more than a hierarchy of statuses, recognized by society, fixed in culture, established in public opinion. This is a kind of magnet. In the sphere of influence of the prestigious status, a strong social tension appears, the most active, ambitious, trained individuals are grouped there. Prestige of a high status significantly affects self-affirmation and self-perception.
Prescribed social statuses are attributed to people, regardless of their abilities. This status can be inherited, and sometimes it is prescribed to people for no apparent reason. It can be congenital, or it can be acquired. A striking example of innate attributed statuses is the caste system in India. Acquired attributed status - age, marital status, etc.