What is the focus of achieved status?

Achieved status refers to a social position that an individual attains as a result of their own actions, choices, and efforts. It encompasses accomplishments, skills, education, and other personal attributes acquired over time, which might include professional achievements, social roles like parenthood, or other significant life milestones. The concept emphasizes individual agency and the notion that people can shape their identities and social positions through their actions, thus distinguishing it from ascribed status, which is assigned at birth or involuntarily gained due to factors beyond personal control.

In contrast, ascribed status, which refers to social positions a person is born into or receives involuntarily, is not the focus of achieved status. Similarly, status linked to one’s family pertains to the inherited or assigned social standing connected to family background, while status based on nationality implies a form of classification defined by citizenship or national identity. Therefore, the essential characteristic of achieved status lies in personal effort and the active role individuals play in shaping their social identities.