Caste, Body and Dalit Politics - Sociology - Lecture Slides, Slides of Sociology

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‘Now we too can twirl our

moustaches’: Caste, The Body

and Dalit Politics in Tamil Nadu

Caste: Given or Made?

• Deistic models:
  • Brahma’s Body: Top down; Zero sum; Static
• Continuous creation models: - Occupation, Exclusion: Bottom up; Productive; Dynamic

Bourdieu: Caste Habitus?

Body is a perfect vehicle for the naturalisation of power – looks extrinsic to the individual (lordly/fair upper castes and subservient/darker Dalits). Habitus/embodiment is important: habituated social actions by-pass reflection on a day-to- day basis but are not in any sense pre- reflexive Habitus not pre-discursive or static – needs to be constantly reinforced (caste socialisation of youngsters) and people need to know meanings attached to their physical attributes

Foucault: Technologies of Power

“Resistance is never in a position of exteriority in relation to power”

Resistance is internal to power

Unstable identities

Permanent process

Overt coercion

The suffering body Pride and shame

Essential Attributes of Caste?

• Birth
• Occupation
• Pollution
• Interaction
• Seeing the Shanars
  • Caste Change
  • Breastcloth Controversy

Making and Unmaking Caste

• What does it mean to ‘do’ caste?
  • Restrictions
  • Prescriptions
  • Interactions
• Identity not Hierarchy?
  • Status Concerns
  • Victim Identity/Pride

Conclusion

‘Caste is a state of mind; it is not a

structure to be torn down’

• Caste Still with Us?

• False Consciousness?

• Co-ordination Key

• Permanent resistance