Anthro - INEQUALITY & SOCIAL STRATIFICATION

What are naturalizing discourses?

• Ideas that make inequality seem natural or normal

• Justify power differences

Is race biological or social?

• Socially constructed

• Not biologically real

• Used to justify inequality

Difference between class and caste?

• Class = flexible, can change

• Caste = fixed, born into it

What is ethnicity and why is it complex?

• Shared culture, language, history

• Can change

• People can have multiple identities

What is colourism?

• Discrimination based on skin tone

• Lighter skin = more privilege

Are human rights universal?

• Debate: universal vs cultural

• Some practices conflict with rights

What is social stratification?

• Ranking of people in society

• Based on power, wealth, status

What are social categories?

• Ways society groups people

• Example: race, class, gender

What is nationalism?

• Strong loyalty to a nation

• Can unite or exclude people

How is inequality maintained?

• Through power systems

• Through beliefs (ideology)

How do anthropologists view race?

• Race is socially constructed

• Not biologically real

• Used to create inequality

What is ethnicity?

• Shared culture, language, history

• More flexible than race

• Can change over time

Why is ethnicity complex?

• People can have multiple identities

• It can change depending on context

How can culture conflict with human rights?

• Some cultural practices may violate rights

• Creates tension between respect and protection

What are social categories?

• Groups used to classify people

• Example:

  • class

  • race

  • gender

How is inequality maintained?

• Through power systems

• Through beliefs (ideology)

• Through social structures