What is the Difference Between Caste and Race?
🆚 Go to Comparative Table 🆚The main difference between caste and race lies in their definitions and the way they are used to differentiate and stratify people in society.
Race is a way of differentiating people based on their physical characteristics, such as skin color, facial features, and other biological factors. It is an ascribed status, meaning it is assigned at birth and is mostly determined by biological, social, and cultural features. Race has been used as a way of giving an individual their group identity in multi-ethnic, multi-cultural nations.
Caste, on the other hand, is a form of social stratification through which people are divided into several groups, often based on hereditary occupations, social status, and cultural factors. Caste is mostly practiced and can be seen in South Asian countries. In the past, one's caste could be revealed by referring to their name or surname, but in modern days, caste is not a barrier for social mobility and it is overlooked in many societies.
Isabel Wilkerson, author of "Caste," argues that the concept of caste is more precise and comprehensive than race, as it focuses on the infrastructure of our divisions and the rankings, whereas race is the metric that's used to determine one's place in that. Caste predates the idea of race, which is only 400 or 500 years old, dating back to the transatlantic slave trade.
Comparative Table: Caste vs Race
The difference between caste and race can be understood through the following table:
| Feature | Caste | Race |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | Caste is a social hierarchical system that ranks groups based on their occupational, social, and economic status in a society. Race refers to a group of people with common physical traits, such as skin color, hair texture, and facial features, which are genetically transmitted. | |
| Origin | Caste is a fusion of two systems from different cultures: jati of pre-Aryan culture with the Aryan hierarchical scheme of varna. Race is a product of natural selection in tropical and semitropical environments, genetic drift among small populations, and historical migrations and contact between peoples. | |
| Social Impact | Caste discrimination has been outlawed in India, but it remains deeply rooted in the cultures of ordinary people. Race is a visible manifestation of something deeper, underlying and predating racism, and holding white supremacy in place. | |
| Examples | Castes are occupational groups and elements in a religious system that accords different values and regulates marriage and inheritance rights. Examples of races include different skin colors, hair textures, and facial features, which are genetically transmitted. | |
| Connection | The caste system is unique to specific societies, such as India. Race is a global concept that applies to human populations worldwide. |
In summary, caste is a social hierarchical system based on occupation, social status, and economic status, while race refers to a group of people with common physical traits. Caste is specific to certain societies, such as India, whereas race is a global concept that applies to human populations worldwide.
- Cast vs Caste
- Race vs Color
- Caste System vs Class System
- Nationality vs Race
- Race vs Ethnicity
- Race vs Racism
- Race vs Species
- Stereotype vs Racism
- Discrimination vs Racism
- Ethnicity vs Social Class
- Ethnicity vs Culture
- Prejudice vs Racism
- Aryans vs Dravidians
- Caucasian vs Asian
- Caucasian vs White
- Nationality vs Ethnicity
- Culture vs Diversity
- Cultural vs Ethnic
- Stereotype vs Prejudice