Social Structure and Status CHAPTER 5 SECTION 1

Social Structure and Status CHAPTER 5 SECTION 1

Section Preview �We will cover: Social Structure Status Ascribe Status Achieved status �Journal #21 What status do you have? Examples of statuses I have are teacher, brother, son, etc.

Role Play �I need six volunteers �One student represents status by being a “student” As a class brainstorm a list of expectations and responsibilities of being a student. �Other volunteers will act out the first five items listed. �Students doing the actions are roles while the first student is status. �Journal #21 What status do you have? Examples of statuses I have are teacher, brother, son, etc. Do students have more roles than statuses? Why do you think that might be?

What is social structure? �Social structure – the underlying patterns of relationships in a group. �What does that mean?

Status �We are not born with mental maps of our status, we must learn. �Status – a position a person occupies within a social structure. Student, doctor, teacher, mother, son, etc. �Status helps us define who and what we are in relation to others within a the same social structure. �Why do you think sociologists study status?

Ascribed vs. Achieved Status �There are two basic types of social statuses: Ascribed and Achieved �Ascribed Status – a position that is neither earned nor chosen but assigned. Male/Female �Achieved Status – a position that is chosen or earned. Husband/Wife, teacher, pro football player, etc �Demonstration Number off every third person.

Status Set �As a student you do not occupy just one status �Status Set – all of the statuses that a person occupies at a particular time. �Do people with a similar status share the same status sets?

Master Status � Are there statuses that you hold that are more important to you than others? If so, there statuses are called master status � Master Status – a position that strongly affects most other aspects of a person’s life. � Some statuses have a stronger influence on where, how well, and how long you live. � Do you think there is such a thing as ascribed or achieved master statuses? � With a partner: Make a list of five famous people in history (max of three people living) For each person, list their master status and how that influences how we think of them now. � Example: Abe Lincoln

In class assignment �Section 1 Assessment: #1 -9 You only have to write the letter a, b, c, d