Status:
Weber writes,
"For example, only the resident of a certain street ('the street') is considered as belonging to 'society,' is qualified for social intercourse, and is visited and invited. Above all, this differentation evolves in such a way as to make for strict submission to the fashion that is dominant at a given time in society...[Such submission to fashion] is considered to be an indication of the fact that a given man pretends to qualify as a gentleman. This submission decides, at least prima facie, that he will be treated as such. And this recognition becomes just as important for his employment chances in 'swank' establishments, and above all, for social intercourse and marriage with 'esteemed' families" (Weber, p. 59).
The appearance of status honor, and the attainment of status honor via marriage can be instrumental in providing power for an individual. In the example that Weber
Warner: My family expects a lot from me.
Elle: - Right.
Warner: - I expect a lot from me.
I plan on running for office someday.
Elle: I fully support that. You know that.
Warner: Absolutely. But the thing is...Elle,
if I'm gonna be a senator by the time I'm 30
I need to stop dicking around.
Elle: Warner, I completely agree.
Warner: That's why I think it's time for us...
Elle, pooh bear...
Elle: - I do.
Warner: - I think we should break up.
Elle: What?
Warner:I've been thinking, and it's the right
thing to do.
Elle: You're breaking up with me?
I thought you were proposing.
Warner: Proposing? Elle, if I'm going to be a senator...
I need to marry a Jackie, not a Marilyn.
Elle: So, you're breaking up with me because I'm too... blonde?!
Warner: No, that's not entirely true—
Elle: Then what? My boobs are too big?
[Everyone in the resturant hears this and turns to their table]
Warner: [whispers] Your boobs are fine.
Elle: So when you said that you would always love me...you were just dicking around?
Warner: Elle, I do love you. I just can't marry you. You have no idea of the pressure that I am under.
My family has five generations of senators. My brother's in the top three at Yale Law.
He just got engaged to a Vanderbilt,for Christ's sake.
...
Warner: Elle, believe me. I never expected to do this...
but I think it's the right thing.
Elle: How can it be the right thing when we're not together?
Warner: I have to think of my future...
and what my family expects of me.
Elle: So you're breaking up with me...
because you're afraid your family won't like me?
Everybody likes me.
Warner: East Coast people are different.
Elle: Because I'm not a Vanderbilt, suddenly I'm white trash?
I grew up in Bel Air! Across the street from Aaron Spelling!
Most people would agree that's a lot better...than some stinky old Vanderbilt!
In this exchange we can see an example of status being different from class.
Economically speaking, Elle and Warner are from the same class, however they come from
sufficiently different backgrounds that the status of their families differ. Elle is less
aware of this status difference, but Warner is aware. He finds their status difference of
particular importance as he plans to run for office, this means that he wishes to join a pary
and to parlay his class and status into power for that party and for himself. In order to do
so he must wed a woman who has status comparable,or preferably superior, to his own.
Discussion Questions: Does Elle have status? How is it different than the status offered by
a Vanderbilt? What might a Vanderbilt have to offer (beyond status or as part of her status)
that Elle does not?
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