Question

Which of the following is an example of an achieved status?

• A. Religion by birth
• B. Gender
• C. Occupation
• D. Caste

Hint:

To easily differentiate between these two terms, ask yourself: "Did the person have to work or make a choice to get this social position?"
If yes, it is an achieved status (e.g., class, educational degree, occupation).
If no, it is an ascribed status (e.g., age, race, caste, sex).

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

Step 1: Understanding the Question:
The question tests the conceptual understanding of social statuses by asking us to identify an example of an "achieved status" from the provided list.
This requires distinguishing between statuses that are assigned to us automatically and those we acquire through personal agency.

Step 2: Key Approach:
Sociologists classify social positions into two primary categories: ascribed status and achieved status.
This classical distinction was systematically developed and popularized by the anthropologist Ralph Linton in his social theory.

Step 3: Detailed Explanation:

• Ascribed Status: An ascribed status is a social position that is assigned to an individual at birth or involuntarily later in life, based on biological inheritance or fixed social attributes.

• Achieved Status: An achieved status is a social position that a person acquires on the basis of individual choice, effort, merit, skills, decisions, or direct personal action.

• Evaluating Option A: "Religion by birth" is an ascribed status because an individual is born into their family's religious community without any initial choice or personal effort.

• Evaluating Option B: "Gender" is traditionally treated as an ascribed status in sociology because it is assigned at birth based on anatomical sex and biological factors.

• Evaluating Option C: "Occupation" is an achieved status because becoming a doctor, teacher, engineer, or entrepreneur requires personal choices, education, training, and effort.

• Evaluating Option D: "Caste" in the Indian context is the quintessential example of an ascribed status because it is determined purely by birth and remains fixed throughout a person's life.

Step 4: Final Answer:
Thus, occupation is a clear example of an achieved status, which corresponds to Option (C).