Essay on Status and Office – The terms ‘status’ and ‘office’ are interrelated. The term ‘status’ designates a position in the general institutional system of a society.
Since such an institutional system which is more evolved in nature is recognised and supported by the entire society and rooted in the folkways and mores, the status associated with it, is also well recognised. Example: In the institutional system of university we recognise the statuses of professor, ‘dean of arts faculty’, ‘vice-chancellor’, ‘and registrar’ etc.
The term ‘office’, on the other hand, designates a position in a purposefully created organisation. This organisation may be governed by specific rules in a limited group. The position in the organisation which is called ‘office’ is generally achieved and not ascribed. Example: The ‘master carpenter of Southern Timber Company’, ‘dean of the faculty of arts of the University of Mangalore’, etc.
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It is quite obvious that holding an office, may, at the same time, give an individual, a status. The kind of status it gives depends upon the importance of the organisation of which office is a part. The status also depends on the importance of this particular office within the organisation.
Example: An inspector general of police and a circle inspector though both occupy a place in police department have wide difference in their ranking. Depending upon their rank their positions offer them different statuses.
It is also quite likely that an individual may acquire a certain office because of his access to a particular status. Statistics have proved that the sons of professional people and businessmen have a greater chance of securing high positions and offices than the sons of labour-class people.
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These two kinds of social positions, that is, status and office, are necessarily interrelated and, interdependent. For example, occupational position may be both a status and an office. It appears as a ‘status’ from the standpoint of the general public, and sounds like an ‘ office’ from the viewpoint of the particular business company or agency.