Is caste and the caste system same?
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Caste and the caste system are closely related but not exactly the same. The Indian caste system is a complex social hierarchy defining social classes based on hereditary groups known as jatis or castes, with further divisions like gotras within them . Caste, on the other hand, refers to a specific group of people with a defined social rank, often interchangeable with the term jati in the Indian context . While the caste system encompasses the entire structure of social stratification in India, caste is more specific to the social rank within this system. The persistence of the caste system in modern India, especially in rural areas, highlights its enduring nature despite legal efforts to outlaw discrimination based on caste .
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3 Citations | Yes, caste and the caste system are related. Caste refers to a social rank group, while the caste system is the structured hierarchy based on these ranks in society. |
| Yes, the paper discusses the complexity and enduring nature of the caste system in India, indicating that caste and the caste system are interconnected aspects of Indian social life. | |
Open access•Journal Article | Yes, the paper discusses the Indian caste system, which defines social classes by hereditary groups called castes or jatis, indicating that caste and the caste system are synonymous in this context. |
| Yes, the paper interprets the American caste system as racialized economic performance, indicating that caste is viewed as a system within which economic interactions are governed. | |
| In the Indian context, caste and the caste system are closely related but not exactly the same. Caste refers to social groups, while the caste system is the hierarchical structure. |
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