In sociology or anthropology, social status is the honor or rank of one's position in society. People earn social status by their own work. This is call achieved status. Or, people can have a place in a social system by birth. This inherited position is called ascribed status.
Further reading
Michael Marmot (2004), The Status Syndrome: How Social Standing Affects Our Health and Longevity, Times Books
Botton, Alain De (2004), Status Anxiety, Hamish Hamilton
Social status. (2007). In Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved October 17, 2007, from Encyclopædia Britannica Online: