Question
What are some of the rules that the caste system imposes?

Answer

The most commonly cited rules that the caste system has imposed are as follows:
  • Caste is determined by birth-a child inherits the "bom information" the caste of its parents. One can never change one’s caste, leave it, or choose not to join it. Caste is never a matter of choice.
  • Membership in a caste involves strict rules about marriage. Caste groups are "endogamous" i.e. marriage is restricted to members of the group.
  • Members of a particular caste have to follow rules about food and food sharing.
  • An individual bom into a caste could only practice the occupation associated with that caste, so that occupations were hereditary.
  • Caste involves hierarchy of rank and status. Every person has a caste. Every caste has a caste. Every caste has a specified place in the hierarchy of all castes.
  • Castes involve sub-division within themselves. Sometimes sub-castes may also have sub-caste i.e. segmental organisation.

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