Which term describes a status that is earned?

• A. Master status
• B. Social status
• C. Ascribed status
• D. Achieved status

Answer: (D)

The idea here is the distinction between statuses that come from effort versus those you’re born into. An earned status is one you obtain through your actions, choices, and achievements. That makes achieved status the best term, since it specifically describes positions acquired by effort, like earning a degree or a promotion.

Ascribed status is given by birth or other involuntary factors and isn’t a result of personal effort. Social status is a broad label for where someone fits in society, but it doesn’t specify whether it’s earned. Master status refers to a dominant identity that shapes how a person is seen across contexts and can be either earned or ascribed, but it’s about prominence rather than the process of earning.