Caste and Class
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santosh kumarCaste and Class
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santosh kumarA caste is a form of social stratification determined by one single factor i.e.
ritualistic legitimation
of authority.
Class of a person is based on multiple factors like economic status, education, power,
achievements etc.
The major differences between Caste and Class are:
Castes are perceived as hereditary groups with a fixed ritual status according to Max Weber’s
phraseology A person’s Class is based on social status, wealth and power acquired, level of
education and other achievements.
A person belonging to certain caste has to follow certain traditions, rituals and customs whereas
a person belonging to a certain class is not bound by customs, rituals or traditions.
According to Anthropologist Louis Dumont and Social Anthropologist Edmund Leach, caste is
unique to the Indian sub-continent Classes are usually found in highly industrialized countries
located in Europe, North America.
Inter caste marriage leads to disputes between family members and members of different
castes.
If there is a marriage between two people belonging to different classes, it may or may not
evoke any kind of disputes between members of different Class.
The caste system does not promote democracy, since it severely limits equal opportunity to rise
from an individual’s station
Class system does not necessarily act as a hindrance to democracy, since classification is
based on education, social status, and the work one does.
Occupational mobility is one of the biggest banes of the Caste system. A person has to continue
in the line of work of his ancestors irrespective of his interest, education and skills.
Social class does not act as a hindrance to occupational mobility. A person belonging to any
class can change his occupations based on his skills, education and interests.
The caste system has religious connotations. The class system is not based on any
religion.
The Social Gap between people belonging to different castes is very wide which is not healthy
for the overall progress of a nationThe Social gap between people belonging to different classes
is narrower when compared to the gap that is prevalent among people belonging to different
Castes.
Caste System is static whereas the class system is dynamic
There is no scope for vertical social mobility since the division is solely determined by birth.
In the case of class there is ample scope for vertical social mobility for people belonging to
different classes since it is dependent on one’s abilities, nature of work, education, acquisition of
wealth, status etc.
Caste system works as a political force whereas Class system does not act as a political force.
Cumulative Inequality is a distinctive feature of the caste system
Dispersed Inequality is a distinctive feature of the class system