What is archived status and what are the types and examples of achieved status? If you want the answer to those questions, then stay with us as we discuss achieved status, types and various examples.
When you have earned a specific status in society, keep in mind that is temporary and can be changed at any time. Achieved status refers to a person’s status earned through hard and commitment.
Achieved status is not served on a silver platter. It’s not a status you earned by birth rather it’s a status earned by doing the hard work.
In a moment, we will be discussing examples of achieved status. Continue reading to discover the types of achieved status and more.
What Is Achieved Status?
Achieved status is a status an individual has earned through hard work and commitment. It’s a status you achieve based on your ability, effort, actions, and skills.
According to Helpfulprofessor.com, achieved status is a kind of status that gives you prestige, privilege, and honour. Why, because you have worked hard for it.
For instance, an individual who participated in and pass a military fitness exercise has achieved a feat. That individual has earned his place in the military.
If that individual is unable to continue serving in the military due to some circumstance, his child can join the military without going through what his father experienced.
The child enjoys ascribed status because someone else has paved the way for him.
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What are the Other Status Types?
In sociology, there are various statuses that exist in our society. According to Indeed.com, besides achieved status, we have two types of statuses and they include;
Ascribed Status
Ascribed status is different from what an achieved status is. It’s the opposite of achieved status and it refers to things we can’t control by ourselves.
You work hard to accomplish an achieved status, while an ascribed status is something you cannot decide for yourself. Let’s define an ascribed status with simple natural examples.
For instance, we cannot control factors such as age or race. These are examples of ascribed status which is uncontrollable compared to achieved status.
Naturally, children have more ascribed status compared to adults. They are still at a level where they can make changes in their life or career.
Ascribed status does emerge from an achieved status. We can consider a family’s social class as an achieved status. Children born into a particular family inherit the financial status of that family.
They have no control over their family’s status or finances. This simply means that the family’s achieved status is an ascribed status for children born into that family.
Race, sex, and age are the most ascribed status for adults.
Mixed Status
Achieved status and ascribed status have opposite meanings. Sometimes it’s a bit difficult to differentiate both achieved and ascribed status.
Mixed status is different from achieved and ascribed status. Just so you know, parenthood could be one of the examples of mixed status.
Many adults have a different view when it comes to parenthood. Some people do not want it at all while for others, it’s complicated.
Many adults perceive parenthood as something that is demanding and requires planning. It’s a life event that many adults perceive as achieved status.
In some situations, many adults may be forced into parenthood because of an unwanted pregnancy. Hence parenthood becomes an ascribed status for such people.
Examples of Achieved Status
Generally, there are several examples of achieved status and we will be discussing it here. Examples of achieved status include;
Education
Education is a simple example of achieved status. Whether it’s online or on campus, you must study and pass several exams to earn your degree.
It all starts from preschool, then elementary school, and middle school, before you get to high school to start planning your college journey.
Some people may perceive elementary to secondary as ascribed status. Every child deserves to be educated at the elementary and secondary levels. Going to college sometimes can be a bit challenging because of the cost to attend.
Many people consider attending a college or university as a form of achieved status. For some adults, attending a college or university is an opportunity to get good jobs and nurture future careers.
Attending a college or university is not just about studying a particular program. It’s also a social status example which can be your one-way ticket to secure lucrative jobs.
Reward and Honours
According to Helpfulprofessor.com, one of the simple and most formal methods to achieve a higher status is to acquire a certificate or reward. The certificate or reward should state specifically the type of status you have achieved.
A simple example is to receive a medal for an outstanding performance as an athlete. The medal should convince everyone that you have acquired an important achievement as an athlete.
Another example is an excellent writer being recognized for his work by becoming a “New York Times Bestseller”.
Occupation
Being a professional is one of the primary examples of achieved status. Generally, becoming a professional requires a lot of practice and time.
Although the Western world may perceive occupation as achieved status, others may have a different opinion.
In some countries, occupation may be perceived as an ascribed status. They believe that familial connections or political affiliations are the key factors in getting lucrative jobs.
In Western culture, it’s believed that hard work and long-term commitment is the key factor to getting lucrative jobs as well as professional development.
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Marital Status
We have talked about parenthood as an example of mixed status. In today’s society, there are many people who think differently about marriage. The truth is, many people don’t see themselves getting married throughout their lifetime.
Since it’s a decision we can make for ourselves, marriage is an example of achieved status.
However, there are individuals who perceive marriage as a wonderful union. A couple will strengthen their relationship and prepare to enter the lifetime journey of marriage.
The couple have worked together to accomplish this, so it’s an achieved status.
In other cultures where arranged marriage is very common, marital status becomes an ascribed status. This is because one or either of the individual involved may not have planned for this marriage.
Self-made Wealth
This explains why achieved status is the opposite of ascribed status. A child born into a wealthy will inherit the family’s wealth. This is known as an ascribed status as the child never earned the family’s wealth through hard work.
A self-made millionaire or billionaire acquired his or her wealth through hard work and years of commitment. Self-made wealth is a primary example of achieved status.
Skills Acquired Through Practice
Some individuals have learned and acquired specific skills by practising for longer periods. To become an expert at something, you need to practice for hours, sometimes days, months or even years.
It’s always exciting to display these skills in front of an audience, knowing no one in the crowd can do these things.
For example, a magician thrilling an audience with his magic tricks. The magician didn’t learn how to do these tricks overnight. It took months or even years to master his skills.
It’s impossible for an individual with no experience in how to perform any magic trick to challenge the magician. If you want to learn the types of tricks used by magicians, then you need to learn for a long time.
Earned Titles
Some of the examples of earned titles include Sir, Doctor, Professor, Reverend, Chancellor, Imam, etc.
People do not receive these titles because of their family background or social status. People receive these titles because they have qualified for them and they have done the work involved to earn these titles.
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Military Rank
If you want to get to a higher position in the military, you must prove yourself to earn your place. From the moment you enlist, you have to prove yourself by passing some physical test.
Acquiring a higher military rank is one of the primary examples of achieved status. It starts with the lower rank of private, then you have the rank of a sergeant, which is a higher rank.
The rank of a general is a very higher rank superior to a sergeant and private.
Life Choices
Making important decisions in life is perceived as achieved status. Let’s say you decided to open a business or take a risk on a specific investment. When you succeed, people will often congratulate you for your effort.
Your effort will be regarded as an achieved status.
Intelligence
There is a huge difference between being perceived to be intelligent and being naturally intelligent.
A very intelligent person doesn’t need to make too much effort to show others that he or she is actually intelligent. Through simple interactions, it’s easy to identify if someone is intelligent or not.
Less intelligent individuals usually put more effort to convince others.
Sports Achievement
When you compete in a particular sporting event and win, you will receive a medal for your performance. It could be a gold, silver or bronze medal.
An example is the Olympic Games held every four years. Winners at this tournament receive a medal for their performance in various sports.
Child Bearing
In some cultures, giving birth to a child is perceived as an achieved status, especially for women.
Women who don’t have a child are seen as failed individuals within a community. Women not having a child may be an issue in some cultures but in Western culture, people don’t see it that way.
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Residency and Second Citizenship
Everyone on the surface of the earth is a citizen of a particular country. Being a citizen of a country is a status that cannot be taken away.
However, people often obtain a second citizenship by living in another country for a specific amount of time. When an individual obtains second citizenship, they see it as an achieved status.
They have satisfied every requirement to obtain this through a legal process.
Fitness
We have talked about physical fitness as a requirement for those who want to enlist in the military.
As an individual, you can acquire a status when it comes to physical abilities. Before you hit the gym, the muscle mass in your entire body was less.
After the first month at the gym lifting weights and exercising, you began to see changes in your body with bigger biceps and expanding shoulders.
One of the primary examples of achieved status is working out to become physically fit.
Frequently Asked Questions
Below are frequently asked questions regarding the examples of achieved status.
What is considered an achieved status?
Achieved status is a status an individual has earned through hard work and commitment. It’s a status you achieve based on your ability, effort, actions, and skills.
Is being a student an example of achieved status?
Yes, being a student defines an achieved status. To become a high school or college student, you must have gone through preschool and elementary school.
This is an achieved status given to individuals who are enrolled in academic programs. It’s also a status given to high schoolers.
Conclusion
Achieved statuses are earned through hard work, skill, ability, and commitment. Ascribed status is the opposite of achieved status as it is uncontrollable.
Your ability to acquire a specific status gives you a sense of prestige and honour, knowing you did the hard work involved.
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References
- helpfulprofessor.com: 23 Achieved Status Examples
- uk.indeed.com: What is achieved status? (Definition, types and examples)
- study.com: What is Achieved Status?
- simplicable.com: 18 Examples of Achieved Status
- www.sociologygroup.com: What is Achieved Status and Examples
