[megatrendsZ]

Hi,

I just finished watching this documentary and I heard that both Latin America and India have complex caste/classification systems based upon skin color. Just wondering if those systems are still in place or now no longer relevant? Thoughts?

[paydayus]

I'm not sure about the rest of Latin America, but I can tell you that I just came back from Cancun and I noticed the Mexican people that worked in the higher positions were lighter skinned and Caucasian looking, while the ones working in the low positions were very dark and native looking, I guess it seems obvious but I never thought it would be like this.

Whatever the case is, India's caste system seems a little more extreme than the racism that exists in Latin America.

[infinkPoode]

The caste system in India has never really been as rigidly color-based as it has in Latin America. It relied more on social/family status than anything else. In fact, you could achieve salvation as a hindu and automically become a higher caste in some cases. It wasn't till British imperialism that India became so obssessed with lighter and European-like features.

But does skin shade indicate class in India still though?

No. It might be a stereotype for most higher class subjects to have lighter skin and look racially different from the majority but that's far from the truth. Yet there are cases of particular castes dividing themselves based on phenotype to preserve their supposed superiority (I'm not too sure of it, but heard it happens among some Tamil Brahmins).

[brilkyPlayday]

But does skin shade indicate class in India still though?

[investor]

Hi,

I just finished watching this documentary and I heard that both Latin America and India have complex caste/classification systems based upon skin color. Just wondering if those systems are still in place or now no longer relevant? Thoughts?

Indian caste system is not based on skin color. Skin shade may indicate caste in some cases, but not always (More often than not, this is the case in South India rather than in the north)
A bigger distinguishing factor is the cultural traditions associated with the caste.
Here are two people belonging to the same "upper" caste:



Here are two people from the same "middle" caste:




Some South indian tribal people are darker than the rest of the population, but there are tribals who are not that dark also.

[blogforloversxx]

Is there greater acceptance now? It seemed from the documentary that shadeism is still a huge issue in South Asia

[kenowinnumberss]

In India they are still part of modern-day society, not so in Latin American.

Speaking only of my country of birth, I will admit that skin color is still associated with an individual's social class but as time passes by and Mexico is becoming a modern country, those stereotypes are dying out. Nowadays, many dark-skinned, poor Mestizos have easier access to higher education and are becoming the country's future middle-class and are acquiring a lot of political and social power, as it should be. Of course, old stereotypes are hard to erase from a country's social history but it is getting there and many who were once considered "undesirables" are becoming part of every spectrum of society, not just the lowest part. Also, the "caste" system in Mexico is not linked or bound to religion as it is in India, where you are born into your caste and it is expected that you remain in your caste, associate among people of your caste and marry into your caste and will be known as such until you die. In Mexico, a poor person who works hard, educates himself has the liberty to climb up the social ladder.

[Paladin]

In fact, you could achieve salvation as a hindu and automically become a higher caste in some cases.

Hmm, I am not sure what you mean here.... but based on what I know, there is no way to jump up the caste ladder within Hindu doctrine. But if the society accepts this can and has happened. In the past, there have been cases where some groups have obtained elevated caste status because that particular population was favored for whatever reason by the society/regent of the past.

[RafaelYV]

I'm not sure about the rest of Latin America, but I can tell you that I just came back from Cancun and I noticed the Mexican people that worked in the higher positions were lighter skinned and Caucasian looking, while the ones working in the low positions were very dark and native looking, I guess it seems obvious but I never thought it would be like this.

Whatever the case is, India's caste system seems a little more extreme than the racism that exists in Latin America.

Dark-skinned indigenous people tend to be poorer, yes, and many times don't have access to higher education but, in general, Mexican society is changing and the children of these dark-skinned indigenous people, as well as Mestizos, are making great strives in society and are climbing up the social ladder.

[Neitteloxesia]

He's Indian? I've never seen a South Asian that looks like him at least where I live but then again not very many live here.

[vansVoish]

Is there greater acceptance now? It seemed from the documentary that shadeism is still a huge issue in South Asia

I think fairer skin has a higher value in India, as there is association with being from a well to do family background, especially for women. But I am not a woman, so I do not really know what motivates them to use nasty bleaching creams.
I think Caste system would be difficult to eradicate in India, just because the Government promotes it through a race to the bottom, through affirmative action policies that are caste based rather than need based. So generation after generation of people will identify as being from "low caste" even if they are affluent.
I for example do not believe in the caste system, but I cannot say that for most of my peers.

[MyOwnStyle]

He's Indian? I've never seen a South Asian that looks like him at least where I live but then again not very many live here.

That man is going to haunt me in my sleep!

[NudiJuicervich]

That man is going to haunt me in my sleep!

lol ha ha me too

[SannyGlow]

He's Indian? I've never seen a South Asian that looks like him at least where I live but then again not very many live here.

Yes he belongs to a South Indian tribe (Paniya).

[KukkoDrukko]

He's Indian? I've never seen a South Asian that looks like him at least where I live but then again not very many live here.

They're the tribals of India.

[wizardasa]

In India they are still part of modern-day society, not so in Latin American.

Speaking only of my country of birth, I will admit that skin color is still associated with an individual's social class but as time passes by and Mexico is becoming a modern country, those stereotypes are dying out. Nowadays, many dark-skinned, poor Mestizos have easier access to higher education and are becoming the country's future middle-class and are acquiring a lot of political and social power, as it should be. Of course, old stereotypes are hard to erase from a country's social history but it is getting there and many who were once considered "undesirables" are becoming part of every spectrum of society, not just the lowest part. Also, the "caste" system in Mexico is not linked or bound to religion as it is in India, where you are born into your caste and it is expected that you remain in your caste, associate among people of your caste and marry into your caste and will be known as such until you die. In Mexico, a poor person who works hard, educates himself has the liberty to climb up the social ladder.

This applies to India also today. There is no restriction on who can and cannot be educated. The only time you see the caste system come up is during weddings, and so you are correct in the sense that even if you are very well educated and are light skinned, you are still stuck in the lower caste if you were born into it.

[viagbloggerz]

Meat caste:


Warrior caste:

[Asianunta]

This applies to India also. There is no restriction on who can and cannot be educated. The only time you see the caste system come up is during weddings.

How do you know someones caste? Last name?

---------- Post added 2012-06-13 at 04:17 ----------

Meat caste:


Warrior caste:

Are you mocking my people?

[FelikTen]

Hmm, I am not sure what you mean here.... but based on what I know, there is no way to jump up the caste ladder within Hindu doctrine. But if the society accepts this can and has happened. In the past, there have been cases where some groups have obtained elevated caste status because that particular population was favored for whatever reason by the society/regent of the past.

She probably means reincarnation.

@OP:
Read this.
http://www.forumbiodiversity.com/sho...t=caste+system

Basically, one is born into a caste, nothing to do with skin pigmentation. I have seen dark skinned high castes and the other way round too.

[dabibibff]

How do you know someones caste? Last name?

---------- Post added 2012-06-13 at 04:17 ----------



Are you mocking my people?

Last names work in North/Central India. But not in all cases in the South(because a lot of south Indians have one name, and no last name).