As a student, I occupy multiple status positions in society. Status refers to a social position with defined rights and duties assigned to it. For example, I am a student to my teacher, a customer to the grocer, a passenger to the bus driver, and a brother or sister to my sibling. We could keep adding to this list.

Each status has a corresponding role, which is the dynamic or behavioural aspect of status. While status is occupied, roles are played. A role is an institutionalised pattern that has become regularised, standardised and formalised in society. We perform our roles according to social expectations through role taking and role playing.

Yes, roles and status do change. In a modern complex society, individuals occupy many different kinds of status during the course of their life. Status changes as we move through different life stages and social contexts.

The change occurs through an ongoing process of social interaction. Individuals come to understand and assume social roles through this continuous interaction with others. Moreover, ideas of prestige attached to status vary across societies and across periods, indicating that social values also transform over time.

Sometimes, managing multiple status positions creates role conflict when contrary expectations arise from two or more roles, showing the complexity of changing social positions.