Overview
This lecture introduces key sociology concepts of status and roles, including their types, significance, and the challenges of role strain and role conflict.
Status in Society
- Status is a socially defined position that an individual occupies (e.g., father, mother, son, daughter, student).
- People hold multiple statuses simultaneously across different contexts.
- Statuses can be categorized as achieved (worked for) or ascribed (given at birth or without choice).
Types of Status
- Achieved statuses are earned through actions or efforts, such as being a nurse, parent, or counselor.
- Ascribed statuses are assigned without choice, like gender, race, or family wealth (especially at a young age).
- Master status is the most significant status an individual holds, as perceived by others, and can be either achieved or ascribed.
Roles and Expectations
- Role refers to the expected behaviors or norms attached to a particular status.
- Every status comes with multiple roles that define appropriate behaviors (e.g., employee expected to arrive on time; parent expected to be nurturing).
Role Strain and Role Conflict
- Role strain occurs when a single status has conflicting expectations (e.g., being loving and also disciplining as a parent).
- Role conflict arises when different statuses have conflicting roles (e.g., being an employee vs. being a parent when each demands your presence simultaneously).
- Managing role strain and role conflict involves prioritizing which role to fulfill when conflicts arise.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Status — A social position a person occupies.
- Achieved Status — A social position earned or chosen through effort.
- Ascribed Status — A social position assigned involuntarily, often at birth.
- Master Status — The dominant status by which a person is most identified.
- Role — The expected behaviors associated with a particular status.
- Role Strain — Tension among roles within one status.
- Role Conflict — Tension between roles from different statuses.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Review definitions and examples of achieved vs. ascribed statuses.
- Reflect on your own master status and the roles you fulfill.
- Prepare questions on role strain and role conflict for next class discussion.