September 29 2011
Social Inequality
Social Inequality
the extent to which culturally valued material and social rewards are given disproportionately
to individuals or groups
occurs when certain individuals or groups have greater access to and control over valued
resources than do others in that society
CASTE SYSTEM
CASTE SYSTEM (Ascribed, closed)
EXAMPLE: INDIA
Brahmins (Priests, purist caste)
Kshatriyas (Rulers, Warriors)
Vaisyas (merchants)
Shudras (menial workers / artisans)
Harijans or Dalits (untouchables)
Membership assigned by birth.
CASTE SYSTEM
Ranked according to notions of purity and pollution.
Occupations specific to caste.
Marriage is endogamous.
Little to no social mobility.
Karma and dharma (social control).
CLASS SYSTEM (achieved, open):
MARXIST VIEW:
Based on relations of production.
In capitalism, owners of the means of production (bourgeoisie) and people who must sell their
labour (proletariat)