Summary

Society Class 03

THE CLASS STARTED WITH A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF THE PREVIOUS TOPICS (04:32 PM)

Few Practice question given in previous class were discussed

LIFE CYCLE OF JOINT FAMILY (05:01 PM)

Practice Question: The life cycle of a joint family is determined by economic factors rather than social values, Discuss. (150 Words/10 Marks)
Approach:
Introduction: define joint family.
Linking statement mentioning that no institution remains static hence, a joint family is not always joint and undergoes a life cycle.
Body: With respect to forces of change there are some social values that may which may impact the life cycle.
However, It is mainly influenced by economic factors. You can write a few points from disintegration and reinforcement perspective
Conclude as per the context.

EMERGENT FORM OF FAMILY (05:11 PM)

Nuclear family with extended ties:
In a nuclear family with extended ties, the core family unit (parents and children) lives together, but they maintain close relationships and connections with extended family members. This can take various forms, such as regular visits, shared family events, joint celebrations, or providing support to each other in times of need.
Single-parent family/household:
Divorce separation is no longer a taboo.
Widowed or divorced women can go for surrogacy.
Culture of adoption among single people.
Due to globalization, there is a desacrilisation of marriage.
Financial empowerment among women.
Female-headed household:
Male-specific migration(For Example, Feminization of Agriculture), especially for economic purposes leads to the female-headed family
Women empowerment or Sologamy.
Feminization of old age.
Government schemes, have often made women the main beneficiary which also resulted in a female-headed household.
Live-in Relations or cohabitation:
Westernization.
LGBTQ relations or homosexual relations.
Marriage is no longer considered a universal institute.
Due to legal stringency and social stigma associated with divorce some people prefer to live-in together.
Due to certain value systems such as non-commitment, indecisiveness, lack of family support, lack of courage, etc.
Impact of cinema as an agent of socialization.
One perspective believes that a live-in relationship has threatened the institution of marriage, whereas another perspective believes that the significance of marriage has increased because the live-in relationship is not viewed as an end but a means to enter into a long-term compatible marital relationship.
Dual career family:
It means both husband and wife are working.
Conjugal symmetrical family:
These are families where there exists equal bargaining power in the marital alliance.
DINK Families (Double Income + No Kid)
They do not have kids.

IMPACT OF GLOBALIZATION ON THE INSTITUTION OF JOINT FAMILY (05:36 PM)

Structure:
Disintegration of Joint Family
Disintegration of joint household and not family
Emergent forms of family like Conjugal symmetry family, Dual career family, etc.
Function:
Traditionally, Family was both a unit of production and consumption but globalization led to industrialization and increased factory system of production.
Family reduced to a unit of consumption only.
The economic function of the family has underwent a change.
Traditionally, family was an agent of socialization with respect to knowledge and skills but with globalization diverse job opportunities opened up.
Special institutions of knowledge emerged hence the education function of the family underwent a change.
Role of family with respect to spouse selection. Globalization led to technology development and the emergence of websites.
However, the role of family with respect to primary socialization and as an agency of social control has not changed.
Emergence of democratic relationships.
The status of women is improving.
Due to the penetration of technology, the ties with extended kin have improved.
However, over-penetration of technology has led to isolation and neglect.

CASTE SYSTEM (06:12 PM)

Concept of Caste system:
It is defined as the system of social stratification which consists of hierarchically arranged, closed, endogamous strata, where membership is ascriptive, contact is restricted and mobility is theoretically impossible.
Features of Caste System:
Innate nature
Hierarchy
Commensality
Occupational division of labour.
Disability and privileges.
Caste council
Caste endogamy.
Models of Caste System:
a) Varna Model:
It is book view.
Sourced from texts and scripture, etc.
1931- Caste census
b) Jati Model
It is a field view.
Sourced from ground reality.
Theories with respect to the origin of caste:
a) Divine origin theory:
It finds its origin in the 'Purusha Sukta hymn of Rig Veda' where Caste was created by Lord Bramha for the harmonious performance of various social functions for the maintenance of society.
It is a symbolic description and is indicative of the work performed by each of them.
b) Karma and Transmigration Theory:
It specifies that man is born in the caste based on the actions of the previous incarnation.
A person who accepts the caste system and performs its obligations is considered to be living according to dharma.
c) Occupational Theory (Nesfield):
According to this theory, Occupation was the sole reason for the emergence of caste systems.
d) Colour Theory:
In this theory the Arya and Dasa were divided based on their colour.
e) Racial Theory (Risley):
Racial differences + endogamous alliances led to the emergence of the Varna system.
According to him, Indo-Aryans came from Persia, they had a four-fold classification, priest, warrior, cultivator and artisans.
Aryans considered themselves superior and, hence maintained their ideas and purity.
There exists Different perspectives with respect to the Varna model, which may provide a macro framework which exists on pan-Indian level
a) Bramhan
b) Kshatriya
c) Vaishya
d) Shudra.
As per the Jati model, Caste is a system of stratification based on principles of purity and pollution.
It has the following features:
Hierarchy.
Separation of contact.
Occupational division of labour.

Traditional Features of Caste System	Forces of Change	Contemporary Reality
Hierarchy	Industrialization	Industrialization leads to Caste neutral jobs which challenges the occupational division of labour.
Separation of contact	Urbanization	Urbanisms has two characteristics like, Anonymity and heterogeneity leading to a secular pattern of living challenges the separation of contact.
Occupational division of labour	Modern value system	Modern value system develops rationality which challenges hierarchy based on purity and pollution.
	Role of state: Reservation Land reforms Mandal commission.	Reservation created opportunities for upward social mobility with respect to higher education, government jobs, and political representation.

Role of state:
Reservation:
Opportunities for mobility but with respect to secular hierarchy and not ritual hierarchy.
It is observed that Sanskritization can help in improving the status with respect to ritual hierarchy. (giving up the impure attributes and imitating the pure attributes)
However, the benefits of reservation were not equally reaped by all. Hence it led to the emergence of 'Class within the Caste' or Elitism.
Land Reforms:
Due to land reforms, there emerges a section that became dominant due to land ownership, numerical strength, and political power. They are known as the 'Dominant caste'
Features of Dominant caste:
The concept exists at the regional level and is not confined to one village.
For Example: Jats, Thakur in UP, Patedars in Gujarat, Maratha in Maharashtra.
Dominant caste acts as a protector of the culture in the region.
They play a very important role in resolving conflicts because of the power they have.
They also serve as a model for Sanskritization.
They also play the role of pressure group to draw attention towards the issues.
However, It is observed due to globalization, agricultural distress, lack of employment opportunities, etc. there is a growing demand for reservations under OBC status.
Mandal Commission:
It is believed that with mandal commission there was an alteration of the caste system.
Instead of a vertical arrangement with an element of stigma there exists horizontal competition for backwardness without the castes.

ROLE OF CASTE IN POLITICS (07:39 PM)

Pre-independence:
Christian missionaries were spreading the message of Christianity as the reformatory movement, against regressive practices.
With English language and secular education led to the emergence of an educated class that wanted to introspect and reform against certain practices like a caste system.
It created grounds for the struggle for power where the hegemony of the upper caste was getting threatened and the lower caste wanted to annulate the system.
Post Independence:
Phase-I:
Since the upper caste was able to benefit from the opportunities offered during British rule, their position got consolidated both with respect to ritual and secular hierarchy and was known as the 'Entrenched caste'
This phase is characterized by the struggle for power between entrenched and dominant castes, as there can not be two swords in one sheath.
Phase-II:
Phase II is characterised by the mobilization of people on caste lines both by entrenched and dominant castes to strengthen their vote bank. it is referred to as the politicisation of caste.
Politicisation of caste has the following features:
Candidates are chosen according to caste composition.
While forming the government it is ensured that every caste group gets adequate representation.
Political parties support the caste groups in order to gain their vote.
Phase-III:
It was predicted that caste identities would cease to exist due to :
Multi-caste alliances
Secular education
Caste-neutral jobs.
Secular pattern of living, etc.
However, instead of this caste-based political association emerged known as 'Casteisation of Politics'

TOPIC FOR THE NEXT CLASS: CASTE SYSTEM (To be Continued...)