Final answer:
Ascribed status is difficult to change, while achieved status is easier to change.
Step-by-step explanation:
Sociologists distinguish between two types of social status: ascribed and achieved. Ascribed status refers to the status that a person is born into, such as their sex or race, and is not within their control. Achieved status, on the other hand, is a status that a person obtains through their own efforts or choices, such as their level of education or occupation.
When comparing the ease of changing these two types of social status, it is generally easier to change achieved status. This is because achieved status is based on personal choices and efforts, which can be altered or improved over time. Ascribed status, on the other hand, is largely determined by factors that are outside of an individual's control.
For example, someone who is born into a low-income family and has an ascribed status of being poor may find it challenging to change their economic status. However, they can work towards achieving higher education or acquiring new skills to improve their occupational status and ultimately change their achieved status.