Caste System
Hierarchical societal structure unique to South Asia
Determines rank, status, privilege and power
Is a social construct
Often linked to Hinduism (contested)
[!abstract] Caste
Each of the social groups in the caste system
[!abstract] Casteism
Discrimination based on caste
Structure
[!quote]+ Rig Veda 10:11
"When they divided Purusha (cosmic man, primeval giant) how many portions did they make? What do they call his mouth, his arms? What do they call his thighs and his feet?"
Dvija
Lit. twice-born, referring to their eligibility for the sacrament of initiation, regarded as a second birthA.k.a. upper castes
Brahmin
Priests, academics
Kshatriya
Warriors, rulers
Vaishya
Merchants, farmers
Dalit-Bahujan
A.k.a. lower castes
Shudra
Workers, servantsA.k.a. other backward class (abbr. OBC)
Dalit
Outside of the varna systemA.k.a. scheduled castes, pej. untouchables
Historically workers who perform polluting tasks
Continuity
The rigid and inflexible caste system is perpetuated by:
- Caste isolation:
- Birth (one is born into a fixed caste and cannot move caste)
- Endogamy
- Occupation
- Commensality
- Ostracisation and violence against violators of caste norms
- Rape of lower caste women upper caste men as humiliation (also patriarchy)
- Belief in karma (followers of caste norms reincarnate into a higher caste)
Ajitani Hifumi