Social Stratification and Caste
Social stratification and Caste:
Caste is a permanent group having its status ascribed at birth. It cannot be changed.
Caste is a system of stratification, in which mobility up and down and the status ladder, at least ideally does not occur. A.W. Green.
Caste is a closed social group.
Characteristics of caste:
- Caste is hierarchical division
- Closed group
- Sub culture: every caste has its own norms which can be different from others. E.g.: marriage norms / issues of out of caste marriages.
- Social contrl: every caste has its own informal methods of social control.
Merits of caste system:
- Biradri system.
- Social solidarity
- Norms are forceful and offer social control
- Castes are endogamous… means they marry within caste.
Demerits of caste system:
- Ethnocentrism among the members of one caste
- Norms of castes are rigid in nature
- New elements of changes are rejected
- Marriage out of caste is rejected
Difference between caste and class system in Pakistan:
| Class | Caste |
| · Class is flexible
· Class can change · Class does not form biradri · Class can be exogamous · There is less ethnocentrism in class · Feeling of association is less strong in classes · There is less solidarity in classes · Class favours social change · Classes do not have norms |
· Caste is rigid
· Caste cannot change · Castes form biradri system · Castes are endogamous · Caste is ethnocentric · Feelings of association are stronger in castes · There is more solidarity in castes · Castes reject social change · Castes have their own norms |
