B1 – Intermediate
Social status is defined as “the position or rank of a person or group, within the society.” Is a person’s social status really important? How relevant is it to you? Read the article below then be ready to answer the discussion questions.
http://www.breakingnewsenglish.com/1611/161127-social-status.html
Discussion Questions:
1. Why is social status important?
2. Do cars and other things make people happier?
3. How can lots of money change your social status?
4. Are rich people happier because of their social status? Explain.
13 replies on “Low Social Status Bad for Health”
1. Why is social status important?
According to the text, social status have influence in health. It extrapolates the conclusions obtained in a research with monkeys and states that people with a low social status suffer more from health problems.
2. Do cars and other things make people happier?
In our society, having a good car means that you are successful enough to afford it. The feeling of been a successful person that can accomplish whatever you want, is what I think that can make people happier.
3. How can lots of money change your social status?
Having lots of money also show in our society that you are a successful person. If other people see you in that way, you will have a will have the social recognition that is necessary to improve your social status.
4. Are rich people happier because of their social status? Explain.
I don’t totally agree with this, because I think that there are other things that are necessary to be happy. However, being a rich person, socially recognised and proud of yourself, is a great help to reach happiness.
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According to a study by Duke University in the USA, social status makes you have better or worse health. They did an experiment with female monkeys and concluded that those in a lower social status had less health.
Having material properties such as a car or a TV does not make people happier, as they still have their worries and feel inferior to people of other status.
Having a lot of money changes everything. As they say, money does not bring happiness, but it helps. Having money allows you to have access to a healthier lifestyle than if you don’t have it.
The rich people are happier because they have many more possibilities, from health care with access to doctors and private clinics, to not worrying about buying quality food, they can spend more on supplies (electricity, gas, water), they have access to higher education, and they can buy material things that make their lives easier. In general, they have an easier time being happy, although not all of them succeed.
You did a very good job with your answers.
Here are a few minor corrections in your sentences:
Well done!
According to the text, the importance of social status is because of the connection between it and health.
In my opinion, lots of money can change the social status because when you are richer, you change your habits: you start buying more expensive stuff, clothes and use to visit more inaccessible places. You can take a better care of your body, alimentation, and appearance. In this way, other people start to admire you.
But many people who has lots of money is not happy, because social status doesn’t guarantee happiness. In my opinion, material goods provide a short-term and temporary happiness, but not in a long-term. Cars and other thinks don’t make people happier. Happiness is inside everyone.
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1. Why is social status important?
Ussually a good social status means a good mental healthy and a better level of happiness. Socially recognized people have a fuller life than people with poor status and in general, a better health.
2. Do cars and other things make people happier?
Things and material thinks are very important but when the people have their expectatives cover, the “emotional salary” is much more decisive for the happiness.
3. How can lots of money change your social status?
The money facilitates the life and provides the relations for change the social status.
4. Are rich people happier because of their social status? Explain.
No, the money doesn´t give the happiness but helps a lot. Obviusly a rich person has a good status easier.
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1. Why is social status important?
I think that it is important because it gives you more possibility to have an easier life, sucha as more facilities to get education, better health assistant and someone.
2. Do cars and other things make people happier?
Yes, they do but I think that it is a transitory happiness because you always want more.
3. How can lots of money change your social status?
You could be closer of the high society with money, but it is not the only thing that you’d need to achieve it. You need to be accepted for them and sometimes the family that you come from could be decisive.
4. Are rich people happier because of their social status? Explain.
I think that it is not connected completely. It could help but the happiness is more an attitude.
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1. Why is social status important?
In my opinion, social status should not be relevant in life, but this is a utopia. Society promotes social differences and needs that people need to improve their status.
A higher social status facilitates some things in life, such as access to education, to some jobs, to health, …
2. Do cars and other things make people happier?
Sure, especially to those people for whom materialism is their lifestyle.
3. How can lots of money change your social status?
It’s a “materialistic” way to change your status, but it doesn’t always mean you belong to that class.
There are situations in which a humble person who earns a lot of money through his work or by a stroke of luck, cannot have access to certain products, places, societies,… that are reserved for people who traditionally belong to the upper class, although one of them has less money.
4 . Are rich people happier because of their social status? Explain.
Not necessarily, I personally believe that money is not the only way to be happy, there are many things in life that make you happy and enjoy it that cannot be paid for with money,
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1. Why is social status important?
In my opinion the social status are important because in a city or in a country have more people and they are diferent all of them. In a society the job, for example, imply diferent social status, is not the same a mecanic than a bankers.
2. Do cars and other things make people happier?
Absolutely yes, because have more things, do you have more posibilities to the create news proyects. it isn´t a condition but is an a big help.
3. How can lots of money change your social status?
Why the money have the power of buy things. If you have sufficient money that buy a other house, for example, your status growing, because you have 2 houses .
4. Are rich people happier because of their social status?
No. the happiness isn´t a raison from the money. The happiness depend of to myself and my capacity of adaptation at the situation of the life.