ascription In allocating roles and statuses, or imputing allegedly natural behaviours, cultures make varying use of kinship, age, sex, and ethnicity. Such ascribed characteristics cannot be changed by individual effort, although social movements and states attempt periodically to challenge the disadvantages and stereotypes arising from nepotism, ageism, sexism, and racism. See also PARSONS, TALCOTT; STATUS, ACHIEVED.

as·crip·tion / əˈskripshən/ • n. the attribution of something to a cause: an ascription of effect to cause. ∎  the attribution of a text, quotation, or work of art to a particular person or period: her ascription of the text to Boccaccio. ∎  the action of regarding a quality as belonging to someone or something: the author's ascription of human attributes to his hero. ∎  a preacher's words ascribing praise to God at the end of a sermon.