The notion of marginality is one of the characteristics of the state of the social structure of contemporary society. The transformation of the social structure of society entails intensive dynamics of the social structure, which determines social differentiation and contributes to the development of social marginality and stigma. This destroys the balance of the social system, escalates the marginalization of the population, and reinforces stigma towards different social groups.
Master status is the defining social position a person holds. Regency, ethnicity, and race are also common master status when people feel a strong allegiance to their primary defining characteristics. Religious, racial, and ethnic minorities often find that their master status is chosen for them by others and determines how others relate to them and how they experience society as a whole. Thus, belonging to one of these groups is a master status for some people because it determines their main characteristics in society’s view.
Status symbols are signals that select for a given person the status that is imputed to him or her and how others treat them. They are quite distorted for homeless people because they do not have familiar symbols, such as jobs or expensive things. Homeless people are considered deviants in society; unlike regular people, their status symbols are defined by a set of stigmas assigned to them. In terms of personal characteristics, their role set may include deviant behavior and belonging to the lowest class in the system of economic stratification.
Social role ambiguity can be caused by a person having several social roles that conflict with each other. For example, the teacher’s daughter is in her class and fails a test. As a mother, the teacher wants to give her daughter the highest grade. However, as a teacher, she has to abide by clear impersonal criteria for assessment. In such a case, the social roles of mother and educator come into conflict. However, the woman has to prioritize her role as a tutor when in the workplace.
One of the most striking types of role conflict women face is working women’s role conflict. A woman who has too many different roles does not have the emotional resources to fulfill them. Another type of role conflict is an existential-gender conflict caused by gender perceptions of different roles’ different values (Lawson, 2019). To overcome a role conflict, a woman needs to look at her situation from the position of an external observer. This helps to see the real causes of internal tension and correctly assess the situation. In addition, she needs to decide which role is more critical at the moment.
The possible role strains I will experience in the future are mainly related to my future profession and social status. In the first case, specific demands on my abilities will constitute role demands at work. In the second case, if I want to marry another person, I will also have to perform the marital role. Now, my role obligation is much less, as I am only in a student role at the moment. In the future, perseverance, dedication, adaptability, and understanding the functioning of the social structure will help me cope with my role strains and adjust to society’s role expectations.
Understanding the operation of the social frame involves knowing that society’s marginalization occurs because of abrupt transformations in the social system. In addition, it should be remembered that master status determines a person’s basic traits in the eyes of society, which in turn determines status symbols – things or features that are specific to a particular social stratum. If a person assumes more than one status at a time, a duality of roles may arise, which will conflict with each other. This duality is particularly evident in women who lead an active social life in multiple statuses, such as being mothers and administrators at work. With an understanding of the above theses about social roles and statuses, I will be able to act effectively within the social system.
Reference
Lawson, T. (2019). The Nature of social reality: Issues in social ontology. Routledge.