Status attainment
Status attainment refers to the process through which individuals achieve their positions within society, including their social class. This process is influenced by both achieved factors, such as educational attainment and career accomplishments, and ascribed factors, such as family income and social background. Status attainment theories emphasize the possibility of social mobility, whether upward or downward, within a class-based system. Achieved factors highlight personal efforts and choices, while ascribed factors reflect the impact of circumstances individuals are born into. Together, these dynamics shape an individual’s opportunities and outcomes in social stratification systems.