Ascribed Status - Religion

Religion

Wealth is not the only social characteristic that defines an individual's ascribed status. Religion is also a factor that must be considered. If your family identifies with a particular religion be it Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, etc., you are identified as the same religion as your biological or adopted parents. An individual's religion or absence of religion then becomes apart of his or her ascribed status. The social norms of a particular religion may have different ascribed statuses than those that are given by the larger society that it assigns to its followers based on the religious doctrines that govern their belief. Ascribed status can also be closely linked with master status as they both involve what you were born with although master status is a broader term and looks at more topics than ascribed status. Another way to look at ascribed status is through the caste system in India.

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Famous quotes containing the word religion:

    If there were only one religion in England there would be danger of despotism, if there were two, they would cut each other’s throats, but there are thirty, and they live in peace and happiness.
    Voltaire [François Marie Arouet] (1694–1778)

    What is a wife and what is a harlot? What is a church and what
    Is a theatre? are they two and not one? can they exist separate?
    Are not religion and politics the same thing? Brotherhood is religion,
    O demonstrations of reason dividing families in cruelty and pride!
    William Blake (1757–1827)

    We have just enough religion to make us hate, but not enough to make us love one another.
    Jonathan Swift (1667–1745)