Which example best represents achieved status?

Achieved status refers to a social position that an individual attains as a result of their actions, choices, and accomplishments rather than through inherent characteristics or traits. Being an employee exemplifies achieved status because it is dependent on an individual’s efforts, such as education, skills, work ethic, and the ability to secure a job.

In contrast, race, sibling status, and age are examples of ascribed status, which individuals do not earn or choose; these statuses are typically assigned at birth or involuntarily acquired. Race is inherently linked to an individual's ethnicity, siblingship is determined by family relationships, and age is a biological characteristic that cannot be changed. Each of these factors does not rely on personal achievement, making them fundamentally different from the status of being an employee, which is based on personal initiative and circumstances.