Status and Role are two highly related concepts. Status always involves a role expectation from the person enjoying the status. Role is determined by the status of a person.
The following points highlight the relationship between Status and Role:
1. Status and Role are both determined by socio-cultural values.
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2. Both are determined in relation to other members of the society.
3. Similar statuses are found in various societies. For example the status of a father in every type of patriarchal society is more or less the same. However, roles are expressed in different forms; there are different role expectations in different societies.
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4. Status can be properly understood with reference to social aspirations and ambitions. Role can also be understood in the background of the social aspirations and the ambitions and requirements of the society.
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5. Status represents only a part of the entire social setup to which the individual member belongs. Different statuses carry out different roles. It means that different individuals perform different roles.
6. On the basis of status and role, the whole society stands divided into different groups. Each group is called a particular status group. Persons belonging to one status group have similarity of outlook. Different persons belonging to even one status group discharge their roles in a different ways.
7. The culture or the cultural background to which a person belongs attaches a value which is also known as prestige. Role is discharged in relation to the prestige of status or the value attached to it.
8. Members of different status groups are divided into various categories and ranks, may be vertically or horizontally. For example a society that divides itself into different castes, creates vertical hierarchical groups.
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The difference that exists amongst various brothers in the family is an example of horizontal differentiation. It is not necessary that the roles may also be differentiated or divided into hierarchical order according to the division of society into groups.
9. Status can be ascribed or achieved. Each, however, involves the performance of a role. Roles are discharged according to various statuses and therefore, they have all the elements of status.
