Chpt. 5 Sect. 1

Question 1

What combines to form the social structure?

Answer 1

Building blocks

Question 2

What is social structure?

Answer 2

The social patterns through which a society is organized

Question 3

What is status?

Answer 3

The position that someone occupies in society

Question 4

Describe this definition of status.

Answer 4

• it conveys nothing about the prestige of the position, to use a common synonym for status
• anyone can occupy several different statuses at the same time

Question 5

What is status set?

Answer 5

All the positions an individual occupies

Question 6

What are the three types of statuses?

Answer 6

1. Ascribed
2. Achieved
3. Master

Question 7

What is ascribed status?

Answer 7

The status that someone is born with and has little control over
Ex:
Sex, race, height, and biological relationships

Question 8

What is achieved status?

Answer 8

A status you achieve, at some point after birth, and is understood as a position you have more control over
Ex:
Professor, student, restaurant server, business owner, volunteer, and romantic partner

Question 9

Differences between achieved and ascribed

Answer 9

1. Ascribed statuses (sex, race and ethnicity, and social class) often affect our ability to acquire and maintain many achieved statuses
2. Achieved statuses can be viewed positively or negatively

Question 10

Describe master status.

Answer 10

• it overrides other statuses
• in terms of people’s reactions, it can either be positive/negative for an individual depending on the particular master status they hold
• some have negative consequences
• people perceive you more in terms of your master status than as the “person beneath” the master status

Question 11

Examples of master status

Answer 11

Gender, race, sexual orientation

Question 12

What are status symbols?

Answer 12

Certain objects that signify any particular status
Ex:
Rolls-Royce, BMW, stroller, wheelchair