Social class is a division of a society based on social and economic status. Why do we have social class in our societies? For what purpose does social class, even exist? From India, to the United States, many different societies have different social classes and systems. So why does social class and system differ from place to place? These are some essential questions that need to be answered.
Amazingly, the Caste System in India has been around for thousands of years. The caste system places you in a social class with specific duties you must perform. Secondly, the system places you in the social class of your parents. In the Caste System, it is expected of individuals to fulfill their Dharma. Dharma is the religious and moral law
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They are the second highest ranking caste. Third, the Vaisyas, who are farmers or merchants. Fourth, the Sudras, who are the workers. Lastly, are the “Untouchables” who are born outside and under the caste system. The “Untouchables”(Dalits) are street sweepers, and latrine cleaners. To keep in mind, depending on village or city life, the importance of caste may differ, and some caste customs such as carrying on family occupations, following caste rules, may not be as important.
Intrestingly, Brahmins can have many occupations other than being a priest, but no one from a lower caste can become a priest(without some opposition). Many Brahmins own land and practice agriculture. In addition, Brahmins have always taken part in political matters. The first Prime Minister of India, Pundit Jawaharlal Nehru, was a Brahmin, and a central figure in Indian politics for much of the 20th century. The Brahmins are mostly strict vegetarians, though in some areas it is normal to eat meat. Their diets consist of rice, maize, wheat, milk, vegetables, fruit, and lentils.
Kshatriyas, are the class of those who descended from warriors, who were in the service of princes and rulers. Kshatriyas today are mostly landowners, or follow other modern professions. People who own a large amount of land are often Kshatriya. Though high ranking in caste, Kshatriyas commonly eat meat, and can have alcoholic drinks, while Brahmins are unable to do either. Although,
The social class in America is everywhere but it is often quite hard to recognize only because it is against the American principle for the social class system to exist. Whether we know it or not, we tend to participate in the class system.. By doing so, this leads us to separate ourselves based on our social class system, including class discrimination and social mobility
The caste system has five parts to it, as you learned in the paragraph before. The highest class, the Brahmins, include rulers and priests. The second class is the Kshatriyas, and the people in that class are the warriors and nobles. The Vaisyas, the third class, are the bankers, merchants, and farmers. The fourth class are the Sudra and the people are artisans and laborers. Last,
He indicated that this system has recently been practiced much in India and reflect on the Hindu religious belief where the caste system is more than two thousand years old. According to the Hindu belief, there are four major types of castes: The “Brahmans” mostly priests and scholars, the “Kshatriyas” warriors, rulers, and large landholders, the “Vaishyas” merchants, farmers, and skilled artisans, the “Shudras” labourers and unskilled artisans, However, there is an additional group called the “Harijans” Sometimes called "untouchables,” they are ranked so low that technically, they are outside the caste system itself.
People are born into the caste of their parents and are not allowed to cross into another one. They are also expected to marry in the same caste. The unequal distribution of money, influence, pain and suffering are seen as a natural consequence for ones previous actions, both in this life and in previous lives. Hindus can be reborn at a higher level through pure acts, good thoughts and devotion. They can also be reborn at a lower level through bad deeds. It is even possible to be reborn as an animal. Arizona State University (2004) lists the five social castes. They are: Brahmins (priests and academics); Kshatriyas (military); Vaishyas (farmers and merchants); Sudras (peasants and servants); and Harijan (outcasts or untouchables).
Social class is a division of a society based on social and economic status which can include levels of wealth, success, power of authority, and influence. Status is can be defined or grouped having common economic, cultural, or political interests.
The caste system began around 1000 B.C.E. to distinguish among the different individuals in early Aryan society, such as the warrior elite, priests, ordinary tribesmen, and conquered subjects. In the caste system there are four groups, reffered to as varna, Brahman, Kshatriya, Vaishya, and Shudra. The Brahman were priests, the Kshatriya were warriors and officials, the Vaishya were merchants and artisans, and the Shudra were peasants and laborers. Those who were not included in a caste were known as outcastes. These people belonged to no caste due to them either entering this social division later than others or violating rituals and losing their caste status. The outcastes were disdained because they made a living by foul jobs such as dressing
Social class is defined by your economical standpoint in our society. There are around 6 social classes in the United States; Upper class, new money, middle class, working class, working poor, and poverty level. The upper class is at the top of the United States, it also makes up about one percent of the U.S. New money falls in line behind the upper class, this refers to people whose wealth has accumulated recently or has only been around for a generation or two. New money makes up about fifteen percent of the society. Middle class includes about thirty-four percent of the population; the members of middle class are mostly in professional jobs. These people could include managers, doctors, lawyers, professors and teachers; It’s likely that
"In addition to these unofficial social classes, Hindus in Bhopal and throughout India adhere to a rigid caste system that further separates people into classes" (15). It is very hard to change caste to a higher standard of living and converse with a higher class. But if some individuals have the desire to change caste, they can through immense effort, talent, and luck; " one may change caste by gaining prominence in a certain occupation" (17). The caste system offers little flexibility in village life, politics, and in marriage. Religion also plays a part in this caste; only Hindus can have caste.
The Brahmans were the highest caste and the Shudras were the lowest. The Brahmans consist of priests and Dravidians were members of the Shudras.
The Caste System was a structure that separated the poor and the rich. Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas, Shudras, and the Untouchable are the five level of the structure. The Caste System determined where you belong by his/her birth. The reason Caste system began was a theory called the Indo-Aryan. Separating people
Before this essay gets detailed with the “Caste system is still here”. It would be best if we had gone over what he Caste system was and what it contained of. According to the textbook “Volume 1: to 1800 World History” states that there were 3 classes. The highest class (which was at the top of the chain) known as the “Brahmins” which had consisted of priests. The second class was the “Kshatriya” which was made up of warriors and rulers. The third ranked class was called the “Vaisya” who were in the middle that had consisted skilled traders, merchants, and minor officials. The 4th ranked class were called the “Sudras” who was the group of unskilled workers. And the last and lowest level, not even
What are the four major castes? What implications does the caste system have for everyday life? How does the caste system relate to Hindu ideas of spiritual life? “The four major castes of Hindu society are; seers ( brahmins ), administrators ( kshatriyas ), artisans or farmers ( vaishyas ), and followers or servants ( shudras)”( Smith 56). Smith writes, religious leaders, teachers, artists, and philosophers are members of the first caste, brahmins, khatriyas, the second caste, first known as warriors are now managers. The tillers of the land, the makers of bricks, and the builders are part of the third caste, vaishyas. The fourth caste is made up of servants, those who will take care of the other castes’ needs (56)”. While I was working in India, summer of 2001 and there at the invitation of the richest family in India and staying at one of their compounds, some of my co-workers and I were playing snooker. A young boy walked into the room where we were playing. He stopped and talked to us for a few minutes before continuing to bed. Accompanied by a man of about twenty years old, the boy’s shudra, who had been the boy’s personal servant for ten or more years. The shudra’s purpose was to protect and serve his charge’s every need. Although there is inequality between castes, Smith denotes.“ within each caste, there is equality, opportunity, and social insurance ( 57)”. Although the text
Social class is an individual’s status based on his or her esteem and prestige acquired mainly through economic success and wealth. The status is compared against a pre-set hierarchy that determines to which class the individual belongs. Social class does matter as well. Social class determines everything about an individual. It determines what neighborhood and environment the individual grows up in, the types of school they attend, and what opportunities is open up for them. Social class also determined the jobs Dolores Dante, Mike Lefevre and my mom worked.
Social Class refers to a group of people with similar levels of wealth, influence, and status. As time passes by many of us start to alienate from each other in terms of what classes we belong to and what type of things we could afford and it also affects the social mobility people will experience, because of that it affects a lot of us greatly and you start to realize how it affects you when it comes to what type of neighborhood you live in or what type of work you do or where you go to school.
According to Indianchild.com the India caste system is a hierarchical society. In the Indian caste system, no matter where you live or what religion you are