Anthropologists define caste systems as hierarchical social structures in which people’s status, occupation, and social relationships are determined by birth and remain largely fixed for life. These systems are often endogamous (marriage occurs within the same caste), based on hereditary occupation, and enforce social segregation through customs and laws.
Key features of caste systems include:
- Ascribed Status – Caste is inherited at birth and not chosen or earned.
- Endogamy – Marriages typically occur within the same caste group.
- Occupational Specialization – Traditional caste roles are linked to specific professions.
- Social Hierarchy – Castes are ranked in a rigid social order, often with notions of purity and pollution.
- Limited Social Mobility – Movement between castes is restricted, making social mobility difficult.
- Religious or Ideological Justification – Many caste systems are reinforced by religious or cultural beliefs.
The Indian caste system is the most well-known example, but similar structures exist elsewhere, such as Japan’s Burakumin, Rwanda’s Tutsi-Hutu system, and historical European feudal classes.