A status shift is the transition from one social status to another one. Some statuses are mutually exclusive, like military or civilian, laicos or religious, noble or commoner. Other statuses are not mutually exclusive, but contextual. One of the identities might be used in certain settings, while the other is used in different settings where the other status is unfavorable, undesirable, or unnecessary.
Stephen Colbert used the phrase in a taped interview with Harvard students in December 2006, briefly elaborating that all jokes contain status shifts . Stephen Colbert is a satirical television pundit who plays the character of a conservative, whose views contradict the actor's.
This is called situational negotiation of social identity; when ethnic identity is flexible and situational, it can become an achieved status. Shifting ethnic affiliations is when an ethnic group may move through levels of culture as they negotiate their identities. Ascribed status is associated with a position in the social–political hierarchy in many societies. Minority groups with inferior power and less secure access to resources are subordinate to majority groups. Ethnic groups help create races; in turn, discrimination against such a group is called racism.
Famous quotes containing the words status and/or shift:
“Knowing how beleaguered working mothers truly are—knowing because I am one of them—I am still amazed at how one need only say “I work” to be forgiven all expectation, to be assigned almost a handicapped status that no decent human being would burden further with demands. “I work” has become the universally accepted excuse, invoked as an all-purpose explanation for bowing out, not participating, letting others down, or otherwise behaving inexcusably.”
—Melinda M. Marshall (20th century)
“You’ve just fulfilled the first role of law enforcement. Make sure when your shift is over you go home alive.”
—David Mamet, U.S. screenwriter, and Brian DePlama. Jimmy Malone (Sean Connery)