Some 20-30 years ago, no one really asked this question, since it was believed that social status, of course, plays an important role in everyone’s life. But today, technological progress has changed people’s lives so much that opinions have diverged. Therefore, we will figure out how much a person is dependent on social status, not only in society, but also in personal relationships.
Concept of social status
In order not to turn into Wikipedia, I will very briefly and in simple words explain what should be understood by this term. Many people mistakenly combine the concept of social status with material status, believing that one is always equal to the other.
In practice, this is not so. A high social role appears when a person can influence the lives of other people. No matter how, just influence.And the most striking example of a significant position in society with a minimum amount of money was Jesus Christ. I’m not talking about religion itself, but about the fact that millions followed one person. Subsequently, Christianity spread throughout the world, fragmented into different trends and remains the dominant religion to this day. And Jesus was not a rich man in terms of financial situation. I’m not talking about spirituality right now, he just didn’t have money.
There are many similar examples, but not such global ones. For example, in one VK group, a car seller complained that he earned three times as much economists, accountants, and lawyers in offices, and girls preferred the latter more.
The girls told him that the seller was only responsible for the goods that the owner had brought to him. And if there is another crisis, then cars will buy less, because the seller is dependent on external factors. And other people depend on the results of the work of his “competitors” on the personal front, and this makes them more significant.
That is, as I said: a person can occupy a high role in society when his actions or inactions affect other people. Sometimes it brings financial benefits, and sometimes not. This is the meaning of social status.
Types of Social Status
Before moving on to considering the impact of our position on our lives, I’m a bit smart. And I will tell you what types of sociology divides the situation in society. There are not many, only three:
- Prescribed (born) – for example, you were born in a family with the surname Miller, and your father works in Gazprom. Even if you don’t follow in your father’s footsteps, your social status is already prescribed upon the fact of birth. It’s the same as being born in the DPRK in the Kim family or in England in the Windsor family.
- Achievable (acquired) – for example, you were born in the family of a builder and were a closed nerd at school. But then PayPal was invented, and the proceeds invested in other projects and became the most famous billionaire inventor.
- Mixed (attributed) – this is how Elizabeth I of the Tudor dynasty ascended the throne upon birth, but the period of her reign is called the “golden age of England.” All because of the flourishing of culture and the increasing importance of London in world politics.
Of course, I gave vivid and global examples, but this is to better understand what we are talking about. Most people have more modest social status, but it still refers to one of three types.
Social development system
It is important to take into account the fact that in modern society, the position is very mobile (constantly changing). Today the whole world knows a person, and the next day everyone forgot about him. Also, the social system is developing in two directions: horizontal and vertical.
In the first case, this is when a person worked as an accountant in a ventilation installation company, and transferred to a gas pipeline installation company. Or was a traveler, but became a travel blogger. That is, only social groups are changing, but not the status, as such, since the impact on others has remained, in fact, the same.
Naturally, the second option implies an increase or decrease in the situation in society. For example, from an ordinary student from the HSE to an opposition blogger and candidate to the State Duma. Due to the fact that the scale of influence on society is changing, the situation in society is changing.
The influence of social status in society
So, now the most important thing – in order to live happily, is it necessary to occupy a certain position in society? Actually not, but on condition that isolation does not scare you.
The fact is that people at the genetic level are arranged in such a way that for survival they need social groups and individuals capable of leading them. This is a kind of shifting responsibility and finding like-minded people.
That is, in life, people, like in the FB or VK, are divided into groups of like-minded people. The intelligentsia unites with the intelligentsia, loafers – with loafers, dummies – with dummies, hard workers – with hard workers and so on. There they hear only what they like, and they send any dissent to a “ban.”
At the same time, “lone wolves” have always been. But a loner is that person who does everything himself. In ancient times, for this it was necessary to be able to chop wood, build a hut and shoot a deer. Today, a loner should be able to sit out a working day at the office, pay for a communal apartment and go to Pyaterochka. Therefore, each for himself is free to determine the importance of social status. There are people for whom universal recognition is more important than air, and there are those who don’t give a damn about everyone, just to live up to their salaries. In general, the 21st century has given us complete freedom, and everyone lives as he wants.
Social status in life
If anyone does not know what is better to choose – to strive to take a certain status or to “score” at all and just live, I ’ll clarify one more important point: a person with a social status is someone who is under the control of others (crowds). Since, as I wrote above, today the situation can quickly change.
Any group of people needs at least an organizer, and as a maximum – a leader – a person who will be responsible for everything. This is where the social hierarchy begins to take shape, where someone occupies a higher or lower position.
This means that a person who wants to succeed in a group must become one who can make a significant contribution to the achievement of their goals. If you are not able to give people at least something, nobody will follow you, which means that nobody needs you.
As stated in the Doctor House series: “When a person is such a bastard, he is either a genius or unemployed.” Accordingly, having a position in the group must say and do what others want to hear and see from him. Or be a genius who will be forgiven for everything. But, in any case, he is a “slave to the lamp,” who must fulfill the desires of the crowd or at least a separate group.
Therefore, loners can feel real freedom, having no responsibility to others, and say whatever they want … but the truth is, only in front of a mirror. In general, as someone said: “A real prison is only in the head.” The importance of the presence or absence of a position in society is nothing more than an illusion. You need to live as conveniently, the rest is not important. For example, Pierce Brosnan, when he starred in Bond, scored on everyone and started just spending money. Of course, he is removed now, but there is no previous glory, but there is a lot of money. And there are plenty of such examples.
The influence of social status in a relationship
Many complain that women are mercantile. In fact, men are not inferior in prudence, they just complain more about girls. But speaking essentially: a couple, civic relations or a family is also a group, just a very small one. Therefore, at the genetic level, the same structure of relations works as in the formation of large social communities.
Therefore, to make things easier in dealing with girls, you need to find friends either from your social circle, or “throw dust in the eyes”.
Recently, a programmer at one of the projects where I work complained that when he tells girls about business on the Internet, they lose interest in him. The fact is that the guy works as a freelancer and launched two of his online stores. But this is not impressive for girls, despite the fact that he cannot be called poor in material terms.
I suggested changing the format of my “resume” a bit – to say that he is an entrepreneur, an IT specialist, and since he is in demand, he works with different people. Now he has launched two of his projects and plans to develop further. That is, he didn’t lie, he even got the IP issued, but he presented what he is a little differently. After all, it is one thing to be an IT specialist, and another to be a seller and freelancer. In general, it worked.
Well, if someone does not want to strive for social status for the sake of relations, a “pornhub” will help him. Because men love beautiful girls. And women spend time, energy and money on beauty in order to be able to choose those who have more influence on society.
Conclusion
As it should be concluded, I summarize briefly: social status in society does not mean anything if you yourself do not want it. But at all times and among all peoples, groups are formed according to the principle laid down by nature. And this cannot be changed.
On the other hand, it’s not necessary for everyone to go for president or blogger. You can just do your job well and make friends by interests. And where there are friends, there will appear friends of interest. Something like this. And life, in general, will go well.
