Download Social Structure and Society

Social Structure and Society
Social Structure
• The underlying patterns of relationships in a
group.
• How people interact with different groups.
Status
• A position a person occupies within a social
structure.
• Helps us define who and what we are in relation
to others within the same social structure.
• Some are acquired at birth, a newborn girl is
instantly a child and a daughter.
• Sociologists are interested in the relationships
among social statuses.
Statuses
Ascribed
Achieved
• Neither earned nor chosen.
• Gender is an obvious non
chosen or earned status.
• Other countries – religion and
social class are not chosen or
earned. You are born into
them.
• Earned or chosen
• Decide to become a spouse or
parent.
• Occupations
Status Set
• All of the statuses that a person occupies at any
particular time.
• Everyone has more than one status!!
Master Status
• A position that strongly affects most other
aspects of a person’s life.
• Some statuses are more important.
• Your occupation is a strong influence.
- Influences where you live and how long you live.
Ascribed Master Statuses
• Age, gender, race, and ethnicity are examples of
ascribed master statuses.
• Significantly affect the likelihood of achieving
other social statuses.
Make a Status Diagram
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•
•
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Use colored pencils and/or markers.
Start with your name
Then branch down to your statuses
Then describe each status
NAME
Status
Describe
Status
Describe
Status
Describe
Status
Describe
On the back
• What is the most important master status you
have?
• Has the master status helped you or hindered
you?
• What master status would you like to achieve?
Why?