Final answer:
Special-purpose groupings organized around shared characteristics such as sex, economic roles, or personal interests are known as interest groups, which include examples like the NAACP and LULAC.
Step-by-step explanation:
Special-purpose groupings that may be organized on the basis of sex, economic role or personal interest are called interest groups. These groups come in various forms, including those based on societal interests which focus on characteristics such as age, gender, race, ethnicity, religion, and sexual preference. Examples include the NAACP and LULAC. These organizations are formed by people who join together to pursue shared interests or because they provide some intangible rewards.
Interest groups can be generally categorized into five types: economic, societal, ideological, public interest, and governmental. Families, as socially recognized groups, are a form of primary interest group. Secondary interest groups, on the other hand, like professional organizations or labor unions, might represent economic or career-based interests.
Within societal structures, these groups play integral roles in political, economic, and social systems, whereby members who share common social statuses based on various factors come together to advocate for their collective interests and ideals.