A caste system is a social hierarchy that divides people into classes based on religious and cultural norms. People in different classes have different degrees of worthiness or purity and, therefore, different rights.
Here are some characteristics of caste systems:
Social hierarchy: Caste systems are based on a fixed ranking of human value, with some groups considered superior to others.
Family-passed: Caste systems are passed down through families.
Occupation and marriage: Caste systems can dictate which professions people can work in and who they can marry.
Rigid boundaries: Caste systems use rigid boundaries to keep the ranked groups separate.
Stigmatization: Caste systems rely on stigmatizing those considered inferior.
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The caste system in the United States is a social hierarchy based on birth that determines a person's standing and respect. It's an artificial system that influences many aspects of life, including:
Last names
Social groups
Political future
Vocations
Marriage choices
Ideological orientations
Assumptions of beauty and competence
Access to resources
The caste system is inherited through descent and maintained through social and cultural organizations. Some anthropologists and scholars of race in America have used the term "caste" for decades.
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