Anthropology, 5th Period

[the-ascended.livejournal.com]

"Okay, let's talk about aquiring statuses. The way in which get our statuses can vary significantly in detail from culture to culture. In all societies, however, they are either achieved or ascribed. Achieved statuses are ones that are acquired by doing something. In contrast, ascribed statuses are the result of being born into a particular family or being born male or female.

What examples can you think of for achieved and ascribed statuses?

Some cultures choose to emphasize the importance of one or the other. In North America today, achieved statuses outside of the family are reinforced while ascribed ones are generally rejected. Why is that do you think?

In India, ascribed, rather than achieved, social status has been strongly reinforced for more than 3,000 years and permeates most areas of life even today. At the heart of Indian ascription system are castes, or varnas. These are carefully ranked, rigidly hereditary social divisions of society.

For homework, I'd like for you to research the Indian caste system for next lesson, please. Considering there's only two of you, if you want to work together, or split the work, that's fine and something you can talk about between yourself. After we've discussed achieved and ascribed statuses!"

Comments

[kikidelivers.livejournal.com]

"Education, certainly," Kiki answers, coughing a little. "And wealth is definitely a sign of social prestige. They're both acheived - they're things you have to work for. Well, most of the time, that is, since in the last century, if you were an American who had acheived wealth through work - something Americans see proudly - and you went to England, you'd be looked down on as being someone who had to work for a living. In England, at the time, people prided themselves on inheriting their money and on being part of the gentry by birth, which Americans saw as lazy and self-indulgent. So in one society, status through wealth was an acheieved status, but in the other, it was ascribed."

[lovechildblair.livejournal.com]

Blair's here and taking notes.