The Caste, The Class And The Color-Bar System

Firstly, the caste system reflects the inequality of Indian society. Although religion in India is characterized by a diversity of religious beliefs and practices, majority of Indian population follow Hinduism. Therefore, the dominance of Hinduism beliefs is common in India. There is a belief in caste system, as Brood said, “a system of hierarchical social organization”1. Hindu society is divided into four main classes; the priestly class, the warrior and administrator class, the producer class who is farmers and merchants and the servant class. The remaining group of people who is “outcastes” is called “untouchables” or dalit. Brodd recognizes “dalits continue to suffer terrible oppression, especially in rural communities in India”. I still could not imagine how terrible this bottom class suffers until reading Max Bearak article. All sufferings of Rohith Vemula, from the hardships of growing up poor, interactions with society in caste to scholarship revoke and suicide, happened tragically because he was born in a dalit family. This is the

The caste system has been extremely stable in India for over two thousand years. It is only since the more modern, independent state of India was formed that the system has come under any scrutiny at all. It is presently outlawed, but many of the practices, attitudes and traditions remain ingrained in Hindu society (University of Wyoming, 1997).

The caste system was often used to maintain order and provided guidance for the citizen’s role in society. It also adapted to the newly arrived migrants like Turks, and Muslim merchants and established codes for behavioral to others and those in the same class. However, as merchants and manufacturers became influential in the economic state, powerful guilds grouped themselves by working within the caste system, and established themselves as jatis (“sub-castes”), specializing themselves in different types of commerce like silk, cotton, spice trade production. Although, Hinduism was embraced in southeastern area of Asia, ruling elites in Southeast Asia showed no interest in the social class of

5. Briefly explain the caste system (if you need more information, double click on the word “caste” anywhere in the reading.):

When we talk about caste system, one must talk about the southern and border states of the United States during the 1877 to mid-1960. These states primarily operated and upheld what is called Jim Crow laws. Under Jim Crow laws it legalized anti-black racism; it was a way of life for black citizens to live under a series of rigid anti-black laws. It was a system which was supported by beliefs that white citizens were superior to black citizens to include intelligence, morality and civilized behavior. Jim Crows laws suggested by mixing of the races would produce mongrel race that would destroy America, treating blacks equal would encourage interracial sexual relations and violence was the means to keep blacks at the bottom of the race hierarchy

Similar to the Brave New World, higher caste members have higher social status. Brahmins, the highest caste of them all, most of them are priests. Kshatriyas are the military. They are powerful. Vaishyas and Shudras are like the middle class, taking up jobs not so important in the society.

            The internal divisions and complexes hierarchy of the Indian society served an important social function.  The system provided each individual with a clear identity and role and offered the benefits of group solidarity and support.  Certain interactions and behaviors were appropriate only between those of equal status. The system assured that the religious, political, and financial powers were all separated into four different social classes (Bulliet, et. 2011).

He also mentioned that for a long time ago, there has been a caste system which organized the social structure in India. There were four major castes: Brahmans, who have spiritual wisdom or act like a priest, Kshatriyas, who are a ruler or an organization, the Vaisya, farmers and traders, and the Sudras, the follower or servants. However, he argued that the stratification is now becoming not so relevant because people can access education and reach a better condition. This information similar to Hodge (2004) explanation about the caste system and the structure now is transformed by the modernization (Fuller, 2009).

In “Some Principles of Stratification” Davis and Moore discuss stratification within society and how it impacts different

As children grow up in the United States, they are often told they can do whatever they want when they are an adult. They are often told to reach for the stars and to chase their dreams. In India however, this was not the case. India followed what is known as a caste system. A caste system does not allow young children the fantasy of becoming whoever they want to become, but instead their future is born when they are. The word “caste” was first coined by Portuguese traders in the 16th century and translates to race. The original caste system in India was developed more than 3,000 years ago and in some instances, still continues today. (Funk & Wagnalls 2016) It was created by Aryan priests who had separated society into four different categories. At the top of the list was Brahmans (priests), next were the Kshatriyas (warriors), then came the Vaisyas (farmers and merchants), and lastly was the Sudras. The Sudras were composed of servants and laborers who were to work for the other three castes. Even worse than being a Sudra though, was being a member of the Harijans, commonly known as the Untouchables. This group was composed of the Dravidians who were native to India and shunned for ‘religious or social sins’ from the other classes they originally came from. All formed by the priests, this system of hierarchy was created and made part of the Hindu religious law (Funk & Wagnalls 2016). The creation of the caste system came with many laws. For instance,

The caste system itself is a system of social stratification, based on two concepts, varna and jati. Varna

A few disadvantages of India’s social system are that Religion, caste, and language are major determinants of social organizations. According to the US Department of State-Background Notes website, even though the government has declared the caste system as illegal, it still has a presence in occupational and societal hierarchies (The Office of Electronic Information, Bureau of Public Affairs, 2010).

Social stratification can be simply defined by stating that it is a system in which a society ranks categories of people in a hierarchy (Macionis, page 224). The concept of social stratification is based on four central principles, which are social stratification is a trait of society, not simply a reflection of individual differences, it carries over from one generation to the next, while it is universal, it is also variable, and social stratification involves not only inequality but beliefs as well (Macionis, pages 224-225). The first principle, that social stratification is a trait of society, not simply a reflection of individual differences, basically says that children born into wealthy families are more likely to be of good health, do well in school, succeed in a career, and live a long life (Macionis, pages 224-225). An example of this first principle can be seen in the what happened to the Titanic. The first-class passengers survived not because they were better swimmers than the second- and third-class passengers, but because of their privileged position (Macionis, page 224-225). The second principle states that the concept of social stratification is one that carries over from one generation to the next (Macionis, page 225). This concept is essentially stating that the social standing of a person is partially determined by their parents. Most people’s social standing remains constant throughout their lives (Macionis, page 225). While social stratification is

Social stratification, as described by our textbook, is the structuring of inequalities between groups in society, in terms of their access to material or symbolic rewards. Essentially, social stratification ranks people in a society in a vertical arrangement, also known as a hierarchy, which defines them as superior or inferior. In terms of racial stratification, this means that some populations that share certain physically inherited characteristics (known as races) are classified as inferior, while members of other races are considered superior. In the West, this means that all non-white people are considered inferior, while white people are the superior race.

Social stratification defines any structure of inequality that persists in a society across generations. Social strata are groups of people — who belong to the same social class or have the same social level. Social strata are organised in a vertical hierarchy. In the early societies people shared a common social standing. In the hunting and gathering societies there was little stratification: men hunted for meat while women gathered edible plants. The general welfare of the society depended on the mutual sharing of goods between all members and no group emerged as better off than the others.