CASTE SYSTEM VS CLASS SYSTEM
1 HIERARCHICAL 1 DYNAMIC
1 STATIC
2 INDIA
3 NO VERTICAL
MOBILITY
CASTE
It is static. Castes are perceived
as hereditary groups with a
fixed ritual status, social classes
are defined in terms of the
relations of production.
Castes are found in Indian sub-
continent only. According to
Dumont and Leach, caste is a
unique phenomenon found only
in India.
The caste system is designed so
that there is almost no social
2SOCIAL
STRATIFICATION 2 EUROPE
3 wide ranges of
material prosperity, 3 VERTICAL MOBILITY
influence, and status
SIMILARITIES CLASS
A class system and a caste It is dynamic. A social class is a
system are both hierarchical, category of people who have a
meaning they are organized like similar socio-economic status in
a ladder, with a few people on relation to other classes in the
the top rungs, more people on society. The individuals and
the various middle rungs, and families which are classified as
many crowded on the bottom part of the same social class
rungs. have similar life chances,
prestige, style of life, attitudes
etc.
Both the class and caste Classes are especially the
systems are institutions of characteristic of industrial
social stratification. They both societies of Europe and America
center around social status, and
in both, people are divided into
several ranks. People are born
into a particular caste or class,
and those castes and classes
differ widely in influence and
material prosperity from top to
bottom. Discrimination is
common, as is poverty and
oppression for those at lower
levels.
Both systems include wide In a class system that has high
ranges of material prosperity, structural mobility, it's easy to
mobility. People are born, live,
and die within the same caste.
Families hardly ever change
castes, and intermarrying or
crossing into a new caste is
forbidden
influence, and status with the
higher classes and castes
receiving many benefits and the
lower classes and castes
struggling with poverty and
oppression.
move around between social
classes based on the way the
society is structured, regardless
of your individual
achievements. In an open class
system, the hierarchical social
status of a person is achieved
through their effort.