Sanctification Of Caste, Class, Race And Sexism

Social inequality is a global phenomenon transcending geography, culture, religion and time. Mankind from time to time has created various parameters for discrimination justifying it on the grounds of the need of social hierarchy in order to ensure effective functioning and a sense of balance as well as harmony in the society.

Sociology demarcates the two distinctly i.e. stratification and inequality. A rigid inequality leads to oppression and exploitation of the lower rungs of the society creating an imbalance that can prove to be disastrous over time as no hierarchy is permanent. Change is inevitable aspect of the nature.

Dwelling into the various oppressions that have existed or are existing globally - Caste, Class, Race and Sexism. Hindus religious text - Manu Smriti has laid the foundation of the caste system where the society is bifurcated into Bramhins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas and Shudras. The interpretation of it over time has been a birth based caste system where one is born in a caste. Whereas, a number of scholars have interpreted the caste system as a framework for allocation of specialisation in the primitive society of the Vedic era declaring the birth based caste system void. Amish, a well known author in the genre of mythological fiction who has written the best selling Shiva trilogy and Ramachandra series has well accredited a karma based caste system on the basis of his knowledge and interpretation of Indian Mythology and Hinduism. Whatever being said, the Indian birth based caste system has been a powerful tool for oppression and exploitation over centuries by the upper castes in the social hierarchy of the Hindus.

An early European society's social stratification and inequality was rigidly based on class system designed on one's economic status. It was being used as a powerful parameter for allocation of resources - socially, culturally and even linguistically.

Gender parity is a contemporary issue marking the inequalities in various arenas of one's life on the grounds of one's sex. The study of gender reveals that there has been a golden age where women were allowed to contribute equally to the economy and were given equal social status as rigid bifurcation on the grounds of gender didn't exist. But over time, women security became a bigger issue. As a result of it, society created various social roles for both sexes.

W.E.B. Du bois's perspective is well known in marking the reality of racism where he clearly states, race is a biological identity and shouldn't be made a social identity.

Sociology has developed its various contemporary perspectives on social stratification and inequality in the last few decades. Along, with their definitions it has also stated the various consequences of inequality and discrimination which if realised at the appropriate time and worked in a timely manner by keeping the required attitude driven by optimism, sense of responsibility, purpose and direction is capable of bringing impactful and fruitful results to the society. It is essential to understand the roles of various institutions in bringing a change and setting absolute equality - a prerequisite to a stable and efficient society.