It is interestingly pointed
out in this week’s reading that social divisions occur no matter what society
we belong to. But what this made me think about was the fact that according to
socialism, the class divisions are based on purely economic reasons. The bourgeoisie
who own the factors of production and the proletariat who work on those factors
of production. But this is not the case
in every society. While economic reasons may be the cause of division, the more
important causes often have more to do with religious or cultural practices.
Take India for example. That
is a society deeply based on the class system. Where there is the ruling class
which consists of the Brahmins and the lowest class, ‘ The achoots’
(untouchables). While this division may have to do with financial power but it
has more to do with the people’s belief in reincarnation. The Brahmins are the
priestly class and they are believed to have earned this position by doing good
deeds in their past life, while the untouchables are sinners, who are mis
treated to the point where they can not even be touched. Their presence in the
same place is also not tolerated.
This was an interesting
aspect of class division that the reading made me aware of. It is more than
just economics that divides the people into classes in a society.
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