Final answer:
The status and benefits within a society according to group membership are linked to social stratification, a system ranking individuals based on wealth, power, and prestige. Status consistency reflects the uniformity of an individual's social ranking across different areas. Achieved and ascribed statuses are tied to their respective benefits and responsibilities in society.
Step-by-step explanation:
The status and benefits that people receive within a society according to their group membership are often tied to a concept known as social stratification. This is a socioeconomic system that divides society's members into categories ranking from high to low, based on variables like wealth, power, and prestige. Within these social strata, people may experience different privileges, such as the value of money and assets they inherit, or they may benefit from societal norms that favor a dominant group, such as white privilege. Sociologists also talk about status consistency, which refers to the consistency, or lack thereof, of an individual's rank across different social categories like income, education, and occupation. Moreover, all societal members, regardless of their group, might enjoy collective benefits due to rights like collective bargaining and safer work conditions.
Individuals have both ascribed statuses, which are beyond their control (e.g., race or gender), and achieved statuses, which they have earned or chosen (e.g., level of education or occupation). These statuses come with their respective responsibilities and benefits that are crucial to social roles and identity. For instance, being a 'student' involves a complex set of roles and expectations that society recognizes and rewards in certain ways.