Page 27 - DSOC202_SOCIAL_STRATIFICATION_ENGLISH

Social Stratification

Notes change. There is no unilinear hierarchy of castes. Multiple hierarchies characterize today’s Indian
society. Intercaste and intracaste relations are no more the bedrock of organic ties between the
castes and within the castes. Family and individual matter in attaining honour and social prestige
more than their castes and communities. “Increasingly, caste is becoming a desideratum, a state of
mind, a plastic and malleable institution. No more hypersymbolisation is manifest to express caste
differences and typifications on a continuing basis.”

What do you understand by "concentric hierarchies “ ?

Social Exclusion
Though the word ‘exclusion’ has been in vogue in writings on social stratification, caste, class and
race, however, as a concept, “exclusion”, particularly “social exclusion”, has come in currency in
the 1970s in the western studies on social stratification and race. The basis of caste system is the
principle of inclusion and exclusion or pure and impure to define superior and inferior positions
and access to power and privilege. Since “exclusion” implies social relations, we may like to use
the concept as “social exclusion” rather than mere exclusion.
In Western Europe, the concept is used to indicate different forms of social disadvantage, such as
economic, social, political, cultural, etc. Social exclusion is found in different ways and intensity.
Whenever social integration is under stress, it is assumed that social exclusion has surfaced. In the
1970s Europe witnessed an alarming magnitude of unemployment, and it was taken as a situation
of disturbed cohesion. In America, the concept of “relative deprivation” is used to distinguish
between the advantaged and the disadvantaged sections of society. In India, generally minorities
and particularly poor from amongst them are considered as “marginalized”. Karl Marx perceived
poverty, unemployment and deprivation, disengagement, withdrawal, underclass and alienation
as the main elements of social exclusion. Herbert Marcuse thought lack of freedom for an individual
as the main diversion of his exclusion.
The concept of “social exclusion” is often used in the studies relating to electoral participation,
access to societal resources and opportunities, unemployment, poverty, education, health care,
etc. It is widening today. Whether social exclusion is, for example, a cause of poverty or poverty
causes social exclusion is a vexed issue. Despite such ambiguities, social exclusion is referred to as
the rupture of social bonds. It is a powerful concept to explain social inequality.
Dimensions of Social Exclusion
There are different forms of social exclusion. India is an apt example of social exclusion. Caste,
jajmani system, untouchability, religion, gender, disability, customs and practices, etc., have been
used for social exclusion of lower castes and communities. According to the International Institute
of Labour Studies (IILS)/UNDP, the criteria of social exclusion are as follows :
1. Social exclusion is a negative state of process - in resource allocation mechanisms, including
power relations, agency, culture and social identity.
2. Social exclusion is also a subjective or objective feature of the people’s lives expressed - a sense
of inferiority or as being materially deprived, respectively.
3. It can be considered as an individual’s disadvantage.
4. Social exclusion also means denial to goods, services and resources to individuals.
No one liked to be excluded from his environs and social situations. Social exclusion is thus an
involuntary condition, imposed by the state society, and particularly by the privileged few. Social
exclusion causes conflict and dissension, and certainly it disturbs social harmony and cohesion.

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