Question 1

Q1: 1. How is social inequality different from the inequality of individuals?

Accepted Answer

Social inequality is different from the inequality of individuals in several key ways as described in the chapter:    Focus on Groups, Not Individuals: Individual inequality refers to the natural differences that exist between people, such as varying abilities, talents, or efforts. In contrast, soci...

Question 2

Q10: 10. What are the major issues taken up by the women's movement over its history?

Accepted Answer

The women's movement in India has addressed different issues over time, evolving with the changing social and political context.    Nineteenth-Century Social Reform: The 'women's question' first arose as part of the 19th-century middle-class social reform movements. The focus was on reforming what w...

Question 3

Q11: 11. In what sense can one say that 'disability' is as much a social as a physical thing?

Accepted Answer

One can say that 'disability' is as much a social as a physical thing because society's structure and attitudes play a crucial role in 'disabling' individuals, often more than their physical or mental impairments themselves. This is known as the social model of disability.    Social Construction of...

Question 4

Q2: 2. What are some of the features of social stratification?

Accepted Answer

Social stratification refers to a system by which a society ranks categories of people in a hierarchy. According to the chapter, it has three key features or principles: 1.  It is a characteristic of society, not simply a function of individual differences. Social stratification is a society-wide sy...

Question 5

Q3: 3. How would you distinguish prejudice from other kinds of opinion or belief?

Accepted Answer

Prejudice can be distinguished from other kinds of opinions or beliefs based on the following characteristics mentioned in the chapter:    Pre-conceived Nature: Prejudice literally means 'pre-judgement'. It is an opinion or attitude formed in advance of any real familiarity with the subject, without...

Question 6

Q4: 4. What is social exclusion?

Accepted Answer

Social exclusion refers to the ways in which individuals or groups may be cut off from full involvement in the wider society. It is a systematic process, not an accidental one, resulting from the structural features of society. Key aspects of social exclusion are:    Denial of Access: It prevents in...

Question 7

Q5: 5. What is the relationship between caste and economic inequality today?

Accepted Answer

The relationship between caste and economic inequality today is complex. While the rigid link between caste and occupation has weakened, a strong correlation between caste status and economic status persists at a macro level.    Weakening of Rigid Links: In modern times, it is easier than before for...

Question 8

Q6: 6. What is untouchability?

Accepted Answer

Untouchability is an extreme and particularly vicious aspect of the caste system that imposes severe social sanctions on members of castes located at the bottom of the purity-pollution hierarchy. The key dimensions of untouchability are: 1.  Exclusion: It involves extreme forms of social exclusion t...

Question 9

Q7: 7. Describe some of the policies designed to address caste inequality.

Accepted Answer

The Indian state has implemented several policies to address caste inequality and discrimination, both before and after Independence. Some of the most significant initiatives include:    Reservations: This is the most important state initiative. It involves setting aside a proportion of seats for me...

Question 10

Q8: 8. How are the Other Backward Classes different from the Dalits (or Scheduled Castes)?

Accepted Answer

The Other Backward Classes (OBCs) are different from the Dalits (Scheduled Castes) in several important ways:    Position in Caste Hierarchy: Dalits, or the ex-untouchables, were historically considered outside the caste hierarchy altogether, at the very bottom of the purity-pollution scale. In cont...

Question 11

Q9: 9. What are the major issues of concern to adivasis today?

Accepted Answer

The major issues of concern to Adivasis (tribal communities) today stem from a long history of exploitation and displacement that began in the colonial era and has continued in independent India.    Loss of Forests and Livelihoods: The colonial government reserved most forest tracts, severing the ri...

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