social stratification and Ethnicity

Social stratification and Ethnicity

Ethnicity is derived from the Greek word ‘Ehtnos’ meaning ‘nation’ which is no depicted as a political entity but as a unit of persons with common blood or descent.

An ethnicity or ethnic group is a socially defined category of people who identify with each other based on common ancestral, social, cultural (Language, literature, religion etc.) or national experience.

Popular Conceptions of Ethnicity

There are three popular conceptions of ethnicity.

1. Biological: the biological conception is based on a common genetic descent. In this sense, ethnicity has been treated as synonymous with race.
2. Cultural: this view treated ethnicity as a cultural phenomenon. E.g: Punjabi, sindhi etc.
3. Psychological: the consciousness of a common identity. Awareness among the members of a group regarding their similarity to each other. E.g after partition the people of both punjab’s thinking and behaving similarly.

Identification of Ethnic Group

Ethnic groups can be identified as;

1. Ethno-Racial
2. Ethno-Religious
3. Ethno-Linguestic
4. Ethno-national
5. Ethno-Regional Group

Ethnicity is much more elastic concept as compare to race and cast. It is usually used to invoke political milieu.

Is possible to leave one ethnic group and enter another?

Yes, it is possible for an individual to leave one ethnic group and enter into another ethnic group. They can change their ethnic groups by;

Way of language shifting

Acculturation

Adaptation

Converting Religion

Ethnicity according to different thinkers

Different thinkers describe ethnicity differently, some of them are as follows;

Karl Deautsh

Ethnicity has been instrumental for Balkanisation and rise of so many nations in Europe, post-world war.

Gellner and Wallerstein

Merit based nature of modern society dissipate any division on basis of ethnicity and abilities will spell out class positions.

Habermas

Argues that ethnicity becomes more prominent in modern times to preserve itself from drastic change and is present in as covert forms even in modern societies.

Paul Hirst (Marxist)

Ethnicity is used by capitalists to keep working class divided so as to prevent any revolution from happening

 Paul Brass

Three ways of defining ethnic groups

1. In terms of objective attributes

That there are some distinguishing objective cultural features that separate one group from the others like, language, territory, religion, dress etc.

2. By reference to subjective feelings

Implies the existence of an ethnic self-consciousness, we feeling.

3. In relation to behaviour

Points to the existence of concrete, specific ways in which ethnic groups do or do not behave in relation to, or in interaction with other groups.