Abstract
Background
 Subjective Social Status is used as an important predictor for psychological and physiological findings, most commonly measured with the MacArthur Scale (Ladder Test). Previous studies have shown that this test fits better in Western cultures. The idea of a social ladder itself and ranking oneself “higher” or “lower” is a concept that accords to the Western thinking.
 Objectives
 We hypothesize that in a culture where only the elites have adapted to a Western lifestyle, the test results reflect a higher level of accuracy for this stratum. We also expect that self-perception differs per sex.
 Sample and Methods
 We implemented the Ladder Test in a study of Indonesian schoolchildren aged between 5 and 13 years (boys N = 369, girls N= 364) from non-private and private schools in Kupang in 2020. 
 Results
 Our analysis showed that the Ladder Test results were according to the Western expectations only for the private school, as the Ladder Scores significantly decreased with age (LM: p = 0.04). The Ladder Test results are best explained by “Education Father” for the non-private school pupils (p = 0.01) and all boys (p = 0.04), by “School Grades” for the private school cohort (p = 0.06) and by “Household Score” for girls (p =0.09).
 Conclusion
 This finding indicates that the concept of ranking oneself “high” or “low” on a social ladder is strongly implicated with Western ideas. A ladder implies social movement by “climbing” up or down. According to that, reflection of self-perception is influenced by culture.
Highlights
Self-perception and social identity is that aspect of an individual’s self-concept that is derived from perceived membership in a relevant social group, group identification and identity signaling, and shapes common goals and social norms
Subjective Social Status is used as an important predictor for psychological and physiological findings, most commonly measured with the MacArthur Scale (Ladder Test)
Our analysis showed that the Ladder Test results were according to the Western expectations only for the private school, as the Ladder Scores significantly decreased with age (LM: p = 0.04)
Summary
Self-perception and social identity is that aspect of an individual’s self-concept that is derived from perceived membership in a relevant social group, group identification and identity signaling, and shapes common goals and social norms The question we want to answer in this study is whether children raised in a social environment that greatly differs from European and Western norms and cultural concepts are able to perceive their social status in terms of “high” and “low”, or “up” and “down”, and to express this self-perception on a rank scale visualized by a wooden ladder. To address this question, we used the MacArthur Scale of Subjective Social Status (SSS). The idea of a social ladder itself and ranking oneself “higher” or “lower” is a concept that accords to the Western thinking
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