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A status symbol is something, usually an expensive or rare object, that indicates a high social status for its owner.
Etymology
The expression "status symbol" was first recorded in 1955 [1] but gained wide currency through the 1959 best selling book The Status Seekers, in which the journalist Vance Packard described American social stratification and behavior in popularized sociological terms.
Status symbols by region and time
What is considered a status symbol will differ between countries, based on the states of their economic and technological development, and common status symbols will naturally change over time. For example, before the invention of the printing press, having a large collection of books would be considered a status symbol. After the advent of the printing press, having books was more common among the average citizen, and the possession of books was less of a status symbol. In the past, pearls and jade were major status symbols. Another common status symbol in the past which is still somewhat present today is heraldry, or one's family name.
Status symbols also indicate the cultural values of a society. For example, in a commercial society, having money or wealth and things that can be bought by wealth, such as cars, houses, or fine clothing, are considered status symbols. In a society that values honor or bravery, a battle scar would be more of a status symbol.
Examples in Western society
In a Western society, possessions perceived as status symbols include:
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