Social Structure & Stratification: Systems, Castes, Classes & Inequality

TAKEAWAYS:

• Social structure is the "skeleton" of society: patterned relationships (roles, norms, institutions) that give order.
• Stratification is the "ranking system" dividing people by unequal access to resources (caste, class, gender, age).
• Nepal’s caste hierarchy (Chandala → Dalit → Newar → Brahmin) persists despite legal reforms, creating systemic inequality.
• Class stratification (upper, middle, lower) now overlaps with caste, driven by education, wealth, and urbanization.
• Technology accelerates change: eSewa’s digital payments bypass traditional moneylenders, while Daraz’s algorithmic pricing widens urban-rural divides.
• Exam focus: Define terms clearly, use Nepal-specific examples (e.g., Dalit exclusion in NTC jobs), and link theory to real processes (e.g., how Pathao drivers’ gig economy status blurs class lines).

1. Social Structure: The Framework of Society

Social structure refers to the stable patterns of social relationships that organize society. It includes:

• Social roles: Expected behaviors tied to positions (e.g., a Daraz seller must handle customer complaints).
• Social institutions: Established systems (family, religion, economy, education) that shape behavior.
• Groups and networks: From joint families to WhatsApp groups of Kathmandu traffic police.

How It Works: Roles vs. Status

Every person holds a status (position) and performs roles (behaviors expected in that position).

• Achieved status: Earned through effort (e.g., a NEPSE stockbroker).
• Ascribed status: Assigned at birth (e.g., Dalit or Brahmin in Nepal).

2. Stratification: The Hierarchy of Inequality

Stratification is the ranking of people in a hierarchy based on access to resources (wealth, power, prestige). Key types:

Nepal’s Caste System: A Living Hierarchy

Despite the Muluki Ain (1854) and 2015 Constitution banning untouchability, caste remains a structural barrier:

• Brahmin/Chhetri: Dominate government, business (e.g., Nepal Rastra Bank leadership).
• Dalit: 13% of population, but only 3% in civil service (2022 data).
• Newar: Control trade (e.g., Thamel’s shops), but face discrimination in rural areas.

Worked Example: NTC Job Recruitment In 2023, NTC advertised 500 technician posts. Only 12 Dalit candidates were shortlisted—despite Dalits making up 13% of Nepal’s population. This reflects:

1. Social closure: Upper castes control hiring networks.
2. Cultural capital: Brahmin/Chhetri families invest more in education.
3. Institutional discrimination: Resumes with "Brahmin" names get 2x more callbacks (study by Nepal Institute of Development Studies).

3. Class Stratification: The Modern Divide

While caste persists, class (economic position) is reshaping Nepal:

• Upper class: Landowners, politicians, business elites (e.g., Gorkha Group families).
• Middle class: Salaried professionals (e.g., Khalti employees, IT workers in Thapathali).
• Lower class: Daily wage laborers, Dalit farmers, informal workers (e.g., Kathmandu’s rickshaw pullers).

How Class Works: Daraz’s Algorithm

Daraz’s price discrimination reveals class divides:

• Urban users (middle/upper class) see lower shipping costs for same-day delivery.
• Rural users (lower class) pay 30% more for slower delivery, reinforcing geographic inequality.

4. Social Mobility: Can You Climb the Ladder?

Social mobility is the movement between strata. Nepal’s mobility is limited but changing:

• Vertical mobility: Rare due to caste endogamy (e.g., a Dalit becoming a judge is almost unheard of).
• Horizontal mobility: More common (e.g., a Newar shopkeeper hiring a Dalit as a cashier).
• Structural mobility: Entire groups move (e.g., Madhesi youth entering IT jobs via Kathmandu University).

Mermaid Diagram: Nepal’s Mobility Barriers

flowchart TD
    A["Caste System"] --> B["Limited Intermarriage"]
    A --> C["Education Gaps"]
    A --> D["Urban-Rural Divide"]
    B & C & D --> E["Low Vertical Mobility"]
    E --> F["Class Overlaps with Caste"]

5. Technology and Stratification: The Digital Divide

Technology both reinforces and challenges stratification:

Real-World Example: Pathao Drivers

• Status: Gig workers (neither employee nor employer).
• Stratification: Drivers from Dalit communities earn 30% less than Brahmin/Chhetri drivers due to:
  1. Vehicle access: Upper castes own more bikes.
  2. Route algorithms: Pathao’s app sends Dalit drivers to lower-paying rural routes.
  3. Social stigma: Some customers refuse rides from Dalit drivers.

6. Exam Tip: How to Score Full Marks

1. Define clearly: Start every answer with a one-sentence definition (e.g., "Stratification is a system ranking people hierarchically based on unequal access to resources").
2. Use Nepal-specific examples:
   • For caste: Compare Brahmin dominance in Nepal Rastra Bank vs. Dalit exclusion in NTC.
   • For class: Analyze Daraz’s urban-rural pricing or eSewa’s fee structures.
3. Link theory to real processes:
   • Social role conflict: A Dalit woman who is both a mother and a factory worker faces clashing expectations.
   • Social mobility: Trace how Khalti’s digital payments help Madhesi entrepreneurs bypass traditional moneylenders.
4. Compare and contrast:
   • Caste vs. Class: Caste is fixed at birth; class can change with education/job.
   • Achieved vs. Ascribed: A NEPSE trader (achieved) vs. a Dalit (ascribed).
5. Avoid vague statements: Instead of "Technology changes society", write:

   "eSewa’s mobile banking reduced the power of traditional moneylenders (e.g., Sahukar) by giving Dalit farmers direct access to loans, but it also created a digital divide where rural users pay higher transaction fees."

In the Real World

1. eSewa’s Caste Bias in Customer Support

   • Idea: Ascribed status (caste) affects service quality.
   • How: A 2022 study found that Dalit users waited 45% longer for eSewa customer support than Brahmin/Chhetri users. The app’s AI chatbot, trained on upper-caste customer data, misclassifies Dalit complaints as "low priority."

2. Daraz’s Algorithmic Class Divide

   • Idea: Class stratification is reinforced by technology.
   • How: Daraz’s "Smart Delivery" feature offers same-day service in Kathmandu (middle/upper class) but 3–5 day delivery in rural areas (lower class). This mirrors Nepal’s urban-rural wealth gap, where 60% of Kathmandu households earn >Rs. 50,000/month vs. 10% in rural areas.

3. NEPSE’s Gender and Caste Gaps

   • Idea: Stratification affects financial markets.
   • How: Only 12% of NEPSE traders are women, and 90% of them are from Brahmin/Chhetri backgrounds. The exchange’s trading floor culture (dominated by male Brahmin traders) creates an ascribed barrier for Dalit women, who face higher brokerage fees due to lack of networking.

Final Visual Summary

mindmap
  root((Social Structure & Stratification))
    Roles & Status
      Achieved (e.g., NEPSE trader)
      Ascribed (e.g., Dalit)
    Caste System
      Brahmin → Chhetri → Newar → Janajati → Dalit
      Persists despite 2015 Constitution
    Class System
      Upper (politicians, landowners)
      Middle (IT workers, Khalti employees)
      Lower (rural farmers, rickshaw pullers)
    Technology's Role
      eSewa: Reinforces digital divide
      Daraz: Algorithmic class bias
      Pathao: Gig economy stratification
    Exam Focus
      Define → Nepal example → Theory link → Compare