social divisions. (session 15)

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.