What occupation does not tell about : Measuring status in Ukraine's capital

Abstract

This study examines how social status is assessed in contemporary Ukrainian society (on the case of Kyiv city). We expect that social status deviates from traditional occupation-based measures prevalent in Western contexts and is more closely related to material wealth than to occupation. Using a multidimensional framework (Warner’s Status Characteristics Index), we employ a factorial survey experiment to test the importance of four (independent) dimensions for status assessment: occupation, income, area of residence, and housing conditions. The experiment was implemented as an online survey in Kyiv 2023. The results confirm that income is the primary determinant of social status judgment, followed by housing conditions, while occupation and area of residence exert less influence. The criteria for judging social status remain consistent across gender, age, and socio-economic strata. This study contributes to the establishment of a standardized index for measuring social status and highlights the nuances of social stratification in Ukraine. Finally, we critically discuss our findings and the future relevance of occupation as a status marker due to the current war and its aftermath.