What are the elements of social structure? Social life is composed of statuses and roles. A status is a position in a group, and a role is the expectations for behavior that go along with a status. We...

What are the elements of social structure? Social life is composed of statuses and roles. A status is a position in a group, and a role is the expectations for behavior that go along with a status. We have no choice over some statuses. These ascribed statuses include one’s race and gender and are often used to justify inequality. Other statuses are achieved; that is, we attain them ourselves, although they are often dependent on ascribed statuses.