AN100 Lecture Notes - Lecture 6: Artificial Scarcity, Structural Violence, Informal Sector
25 Mar 2016
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Document Summary
Subject to the worst forms of violence. A ranked group where membership is based on birth. Closed rank and lacked mobility within the system. Can refer to any rigid closed group. Some american racial groups have been argued to be similar to indian castes. Caste identity tends to preserve and create cultural differences. Portuguese casta to describe groups in brazil with different proportions of racial purity. Shrouded in myths and many versions exist. Religious explanation: from the body of supreme being- purusha. Conquest of indigenous agricultural peoples by nomadic, cattle herding aryans from central asia. Later evolved into diverse caste groups based on occupation. Castes evolved into rigid categories over time and was hardened further during. It provides a rationale and justification for oppression and discrimination. To maintain the privileges of the upper castes. Currently caste oppression is a reaction to policies favouring the lower castes. Most importantly, caste is a social construction.
