Social status may be determined by many factors. Some of these may be given by birth, genetics, or for reasons other than the achievement of the person. These include such things as color of skin and eyes, kind of hair, height, body build, gender, national origin, family's social position, inherited wealth, and age.

Other factors may be determined by achievements through a person's efforts. These include such factors as level of education, employment, development of skills, hard work, wise investment, or initiatives taken. People who have sought to improve their social and economic status by what they have achieved may resent the higher status of others who were given their status by the accident of birth or nationality or family connections. It would appear to them that life has not b…