social stratification and Ethnicity
Social stratification and Ethnicity
Ethnicity is derived from the Greek word ‘Ehtnos’ meaning ‘nation’, which is not 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.
- Biological: The biological conception is based on a common genetic descent. In this sense, ethnicity has been treated as synonymous with race.
- Cultural: this view treated ethnicity as a cultural phenomenon. E.g: Punjabi, Sindhi, etc.
- Psychological: the consciousness of a common identity. There is 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;
- Ethno-Racial
- Ethno-Religious
- Ethno-Linguestic
- Ethno-national
- Ethno-Regional Group
Ethnicity is much more elastic concept as compared to race and caste. It is usually used to invoke a 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 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 in the Balkanization and rise of so many nations in Europe post-World War II.
Gellner and Wallerstein
The merit-based nature of modern society dissipates any division on the basis of ethnicity and abilities, which will spell out class positions.
Habermas
It is argued 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
- 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.
- By reference to subjective feelings
Implies the existence of an ethnic self-consciousness, we feeling.
- 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.