Master status

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In sociology, the master status is the social position that is the primary identifying characteristic of an individual. The term master status is defined as "a status that has exceptional importance for social identity, often shaping a person's entire life."^[1] In other words, a personal characteristic is a master status when that one characteristic overshadows or even redefines one's other personal characteristics and/or shapes a person's life course. For example a person who is a murderer may also be a kind, gentle, and honest person. But because 'murderer' is often a master status, many people assume all murderers are mean, violent, and dishonest. Being born a man as opposed to a woman shapes a person's entire life course - school, hobbies and sports, occupations, role within the family and at home, as well as roles taken in everyday social situations - all of these things are experienced very differently based upon sex. Master status can be ascribed or achieved.

Ascribed statuses are attributes one is born with—e.g., race, sex, etc. Achieved statuses are gained throughout life—e.g., mom, athlete, spouse, etc. When one of these statuses overpowers the others it can be determined as one's master status. An achieved status that becomes a master status is accompanied by a rite of passage, an important life event where a person is changed from one type of person into another. Marriage is one example, where a person transforms from single to spouse. Public criminal jury trials are another example, where a person transforms into the master status of "criminal."