Master Status Flashcards
(3 cards)
1
Q
What is meant by master status?
A
Once a person is seen as deviant or criminal they gain a label which is what everyone knows about them.
2
Q
What is the cycle of master status?
A
A person engages in crime and is caught by the police, their deviant label is confirmed, they’re sent to prison, then released from prison, and their master status becomes ‘criminal’, due to this they can’t find a job or make friends. They then accept their master status and find others who define themselves as criminals to finally be accepted.
3
Q
What are some evaluations of the master status?
A
-strengths: highlights that law enforcement can be discriminatory
Weaknesses: it failed to explain why the deviant behaviour happens in the first place.
