Difference between caste and class
Difference between caste and class
Difference between caste and class system.
Caste and Class.
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Both 'caste' and 'class' are considered as status-groups in society. A status-group refers to a group of people who have a distinctive way of life and are aware of this distinctiveness. Equality of status is observed among the members of a class in the socio-economic field. This equality of socio-economic status is said to be in the context of other classes in society. Castes are hereditary. The ritual and judicial status of castes is specific.
Classes are determined in terms of the conditions of production relations. No social class is well-organized. But the individuals or families within each social class are roughly at the same level in terms of education, economic and social status.
Difference between caste and class:-
In the context of social stratification, important differences are observed between caste and social class in various aspects. The differences are as follows:-
(1) Endogamy: One of the most important features of caste is called endogamy. In the caste system, both the bride and groom must belong to the same caste for marriage. But this feature is absent in the case of social class. In the case of social class, a marital relationship can be established between a person of one class and a person of another class.
(2) Personal differences:- The caste system is based on birth and heredity. Family judgment or birth certificate is the basis of the caste system. Naturally, caste is a hereditary matter. And caste is a closed group. On the other hand, the basis of social class is inequality in social establishment or differences in life chances. Due to occupational differences or differences in economic status, class differences arise and social stratification is created.
(3) Caste system is Indian:- According to Leach & Dumont, caste system is an exclusively Indian system. Such a caste system is not seen in any other country in the world. On the contrary, class system is a universal system. The existence of this class system in all countries of the world is undeniable.
(4) Difference in terms of social gap:- In the case of caste system, there is a wide gap in the social field between the upper caste and the lower caste. This gap is clearly observed in various fields of daily life. In the case of social hierarchy, there is also a social gap between different classes. This is true. But this gap is not so obvious. There is no caste panchayat of social class, there is class organization.
(5) In the case of social class, the important thing is ‘class consciousness’ (class ness) and class solidarity’ (class-solidarity). But this is not seen in the case of caste system.
(6) Caste is largely a matter of form. On the contrary, class is of a fragmentary nature. Different sections of the class are guided by a competitive attitude. This is absent in the case of caste.
(7) According to the prevailing trend of traditional Hindu society, the profession or occupation of every individual is predetermined. Caste and occupation are inextricably linked in this case. Children grow up and adopt the family profession. On the other hand, in the class system, the profession of an individual is not predetermined. In the context of the class system, the issue of family profession is unimportant.
(8) Difference in the matter of commensality: - One of the most important features of the caste system is commensality. Certain restrictions are prevalent in the special cases of mutual relations between castes. Generally, all these regulations are present in the case of drinking and eating. Each caste feels that it is necessary to follow all these restrictions of its own. This is called the asceticism of the caste system. Asceticism is absent in the case of the class system.
(9) In the caste system, the caste identity of the person is found in terms of the title. That is, the title is present as an indicator of the difference between the castes. But in the case of the class system, the title does not play a class-identifying role.
(10) Difference in status and membership: - In the case of caste system, the status of the person is fixed by birth. It does not change. On the other hand, in the case of class system, the question of status is not predetermined or unchangeable. Therefore, caste status is. 'Ascribed' status. On the other hand, social class status is 'acquired' status. In the case of social class, it is possible to be promoted to a higher class.
(11) There are different classes within a caste:- There is the existence of more than one class within a caste and the relations of conflict between the classes within a caste are removed. Even the poor people belonging to the same caste are careful to maintain harmonious relations with the people of the wealthy class.
(12) Difference in the question of cooperation: - Mutual cooperation between castes is considered as an important feature of the caste system. Apart from that, mutual dependence between castes is observed in the economic field. In this context, according to Leach, the caste system is an organic system. In this system, each caste plays a specific role. Apart from that, the caste system is a system of division of labor. In this system, the element of competition between the members is absent. On the contrary, in the class system, there is no economic dependence or cooperation. In the class system, competition and conflict are observed instead of cooperation.
(13) Difference in the question of social status: - According to Dumont, in the caste system, the social position or status of a caste is determined by social customs or rules and regulations. In this case, economic and political opportunities are unimportant. On the contrary, in the class system, social norms are unimportant and economic and political power are important in determining the status of an individual.
(14) Service of lower castes:- In the caste system, the upper castes have to depend on the service of the lower castes. For this reason, the upper castes compete among themselves to get the service and loyalty of the lower castes. But in the class system, the lower classes compete among themselves to get the favor of the upper classes.
(15) Difference in social mobility:- One of the most important features of social class is social mobility. But this feature is absent in the case of the caste system. In the case of social class, there is an opportunity to change the class. There is no social barrier in it. For this reason, the hierarchy of modern society appears as a symbol of ‘open society’.
(16) Caste system is religious, class system is secular:- In the case of caste system, the existence of divine sanction is believed. In the case of the origin of caste system, the idea of divine or sacredness is also believed. But in the case of the class structure of the society, no such idea of divine or sacredness is absent. The caste system is completely covered by religion. On the contrary, the class system is secular in nature.
According to Andre Beteille, caste works as an active political force in the rural areas. Class is not seen in this role. In this regard, he has opposed the Marxist view. Andre Beteille has reached this conclusion on the basis of a sociological survey conducted in the Sripuram region of South India.
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