Master Status

Some statuses matter more than others. A master status is a status that has special importance for social identity, often shaping a person's entire life. For most people, a job is a master status because it reveals a great deal about social background, education, and income. In a few cases, a person's name is a master status; being a "Bush" attracts attention and creates opportunities. -John J. Macionis (author of Society; The Basics)