Social Status and Power in Java by Leslie H. Palmier

Author:Leslie H. Palmier [Palmier, Leslie H.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Google: ZXALAAAAIAAJ
Publisher: Athlone Press
Published: 1960-01-15T03:57:04+00:00

THE POWER OF STATUS

Status was the key to, and index of, participation in a certain communication network. It showed, with regard to batik, that its possessor was able to produce ‘correct’ batik and also able to sell it. Similarly, with regard to way of life, it showed that its possessor participated in a system of values which on balance was positively valued.

Status thus gave power. Economic power came in the form of financial credit extended to the person with high social status, for not only did such a person with high status have more to lose by being dishonest than a person with low status, but also it represented, in the special circumstances obtaining, that the credit advanced would be put to good use and therefore advantage the lender. It also gave political power, in the sense of influence over policy, in that it represented knowledge of a certain system of communication. Hence when decisions had to be made in that field, the possessor of high status was in a position effectively to make them.

But whilst it obtained credit for the production of batik, it limited what was produced to the high-quality, costly, product; to have produced in mass the cheaper printed version would have entailed a loss of status. Similarly, it gave power of decision only in the field where it was granted; i.e., with regard to the minutiae of language, the criteria of correct Western etiquette, not with regard to political decisions in fields where no high status was accorded. In short, status gave power, but it also limited it to certain fields.

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