CASTE AND POLITICS: Identity Over System

Gupta, Dipankar

doi:10.1146/annurev.anthro.34.081804.120649

Cited by 87 publications

(57 citation statements)

References 13 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…The Forward caste (FC) community generally constitute the high caste group. The SC, ST, and OBC comprising the historically disadvantaged groups, were provided job opportunities by the government through affirmative action (Sheth, 1987; Kumar, 2001; Gupta, 2005; Dreze and Khera, 2009). The FC has historically been and, continues to be, in a strong socioeconomic position with the highest status in society 1 .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Role of Indian Caste Identity and Caste Inconsistent Norms on Status Representation

2017

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The Indian caste system is a complex social structure wherein social roles like one’s profession became ‘hereditary,’ resulting in restricted social mobility and fixed status hierarchies. Furthermore, we argue that the inherent property of caste heightens group identification with one’s caste. Highly identified group members would protect the identity of the group in situations when group norms are violated. In this paper, we were interested in examining the consequence of caste norm violation and how an individual’s status is mentally represented. High caste norms are associated with moral values while the lower caste norms are associated with immorality. We predicted a ‘black sheep effect,’ that is, when high caste individuals’ group identity (caste norm violation condition) is threatened their salient high caste identity would increase, thereby resulting in devaluing the status of their fellow in-group member if the latter is perceived as perpetrator. We presented participants with a social conflict situation of a victim and a perpetrator that is ‘Caste norm consistent’ (Lower caste individual as a perpetrator and higher caste individual as a victim) and vice versa ‘Caste norm inconsistent’ condition (higher caste individual as perpetrator and lower caste individual as a victim). Then, participants had to choose from nine pictorial depictions representing the protagonists in the story on a vertical line, with varying degrees of status distance. Results showed evidence for the black sheep effect and, furthermore, revealed that no other identity (religious, national, and regional) resulted in devaluing the status of fellow in-group member. These results help us understand the ‘black sheep’ effect in the context of moral norms and status representation and are discussed in the framework of the Indian society.

show abstract

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Role of Indian Caste Identity and Caste Inconsistent Norms on Status Representation

2017

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…This is similar to what Still (2009, 21) finds in Andhra Pradesh, India, where young Dalits opposed adverse caste relations 'using the resources at hand'. Drawing on the case of the Kuka village and similar studies from India, the assertion that Dalits act to denigrate themselves (Moffatt 1979) seems untenable, consistent with what Gupta (2005) argues, because Dalits are challenging the caste system overtly and covertly exercising their hitherto constrained agency.…”

Section: Counter-hegemonic Practicesmentioning

confidence: 62%

Marginalised Dalits in International Labour Migration: Reconfiguring Economic and Social Relations in Nepal

Sunam¹

2014

Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

International labour migration continues to rise in Nepal affecting the livelihoods of many people. In this article, I draw on ethnographic research with Dalits, a marginalised group, to examine the role of international labour migration in altering migrants' economic and social space in their places of origin, once affected by Maoists' 'people's war'. In particular, I explore how Dalits have used their agency to contest caste institutions by mobilising financial, human and symbolic capitals accumulated through migration. Much of the existing studies highlight the economic side of migration paying little attention to the social and cultural dimension. This article seeks to complement these analyses by illustrating how Dalits repudiate caste relations that have shaped their experiences of exploitation and domination.

show abstract

“…This has resulted in the collapse of the caste system but also in the rise of caste identities (Gupta 2005). Caste relations have been moving away from traditional relationships of socio-economic interdependence towards more competitive models of social interaction.…”

Section: Caste and Identity Politicsmentioning

confidence: 99%