UNIT 6 Master Status and Status and Role Strain
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Master Status & Status Activation
In many instances one’s master status comes into play. A master status refers to that
status within an individual’s status-set that has special importance for social identity,
often shaping a person’s entire life. Others tend to “see” or define that person as an “X,”
rather than any of the other dozens of statuses the person occupies. Brad Pitt, for
example, is seen as an actor more so than as a father or son or any of the positions he
occupies in charitable organizations.
Sociologists identify this as the problem of status activation. Since individuals occupy
multiple statuses, which specific status becomes activated at any given time?
This can be looked at from the standpoint of the actor and from the standpoint of the
other person involved in the interaction – and they don’t always agree. A male
interested in one of his female classmates wants to activate the status of “boyfriend,”
but the woman sees him only as a “friend.” How is this “socially negotiated” by
partners in interactions? How are discrepant activations resolved?
As shall be seen later this semester, the problem of status activation is central to the
workings of prejudice and discrimination in society. Here, someone activates another
person’s racial or sexual or age status even though each is irrelevant to the situation. For
example, when applying for a job people typically highlight their past accomplishments
– activating their occupational status. If the employer refuses to hire people of a
particular race they are, in effect, activating the applicant’s racial status – which has
nothing whatsoever to do with their abilities to fulfill the responsibilities and
obligations of the job.
Status-Conflict & Status-Strain
We all experience conflicts and strains because competing demands are made upon us
by virtue of the different statuses we occupy. We are constantly being pulled in different
directions. Reading this, you are fulfilling the obligations that are attached to your status
of student. But how many of you have other obligations that you also must meet by
virtue of occupying other statuses – such as mom, dad, wife, husband, friend,
salesperson, hostess – that you have put aside while you finish your school work?
Status-conflict and status-strain are the result of incompatible demands that arise from
occupying two or more different statuses.
In many instances one’s master status comes into play. A
UNIT 6 Master Status and Status and Role Strain
master status refers to that status within an individual’s statusset that has special importance for social identity, often shaping
a person’s entire life. Others tend to “see” or define that person
as an “X,” rather than any of the other dozens of statuses the
person occupies. Brad Pitt, for example, is seen as an actor
more so than as a father or son or any of the positions he
occupies in charitable organizations.
Sociologists identify this as the problem of status activation.
Since individuals occupy multiple statuses, which specific
status becomes activated at any given time?
This can be looked at from the standpoint of the actor and from
the standpoint of the other person involved in the interaction –
and they don’t always agree. A male interested in one of his
female classmates wants to activate the status of “boyfriend,”
but the woman sees him only as a “friend.” How is this
“socially negotiated” by partners in interactions? How are
discrepant activations resolved?
As shall be seen later this semester, the problem of status
activation is central to the workings of prejudice and
discrimination in society. Here, someone activates another
person’s racial or sexual or age status even though each is
irrelevant to the situation. For example, when applying for a
job people typically highlight their past accomplishments –
activating their occupational status. If the employer refuses to
hire people of a particular race they are, in effect, activating the
applicant’s racial status – which has nothing whatsoever to do
with their abilities to fulfill the responsibilities and obligations
of the job.
Status-Conflict & Status-Strain
[Note: the definitions presented here differ
from those that Macionis offers in the
textbook]
We all experience conflicts and strains because competing
demands are made upon us by virtue of the different statuses
we occupy. We are constantly being pulled in different
directions. Reading this, you are fulfilling the obligations that
are attached to your status of student. But how many of you
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UNIT 6 Master Status and Status and Role Strain
have other obligations that you also must meet by virtue of
occupying other statuses – such as mom, dad, wife, husband,
friend, salesperson, hostess – that you have put aside while you
finish your school work?
Status-conflict and status-strain are the result of incompatible
demands that arise from occupying two or more different
statuses.
Status-conflict refers to a situation where attending to the
demands and obligations of one status precludes fulfilling the
demands and obligations of another status. For example, my
status “Professor” obligates me to be at school to teach a night
class that meets from 7:00 to 9:45. At the same time, because I
am also a “father,” I am expected to attend my child’s teacherparent meeting that is scheduled at the same time. I cannot be
in both places at the same time. By fulfilling the demands and
obligations of one of these statuses I cannot do the other – as a
result I am experiencing “status-conflict.”
Status Strain refers to a situation where you could,
theoretically, fulfill all of the demands made upon you by
different statuses, but you must prioritize your actions and
perhaps “cut some corners” in fulfilling your obligations.
For example my status “Professor” obligates me to attend a
faculty reception that is scheduled from 7:00PM to 9:00PM.
But as a father I am expected to attend my daughter’s High
School soccer game that is scheduled for the same time. I
resolve these competing demands by attending only the first
hour of the faculty reception – I leave early – and I arrive late
but in time to see the second half of the soccer game. I fulfill
the obligations of both, but at less than peak efficiency, and I
am experiencing status-strain.
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