Sociology
Sociology http://soc.sagepub.com/ The Embodiment of Caste : Oppression, Protest and Change
Hugo Gorringe and Irene Rafanell Sociology 2007 41: 97 DOI: 10.1177/0038038507074721 The online version of this article can be found at: http://soc.sagepub.com/content/41/1/97
Published by: http://www.sagepublications.com On behalf of:
British Sociological Association
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Sociology
Copyright © 2007 BSA Publications Ltd® Volume 41(1): 97–114 DOI: 10.1177/0038038507074721 SAGE Publications London,Thousand Oaks, New Delhi
The Embodiment of Caste: Oppression, Protest and Change
Hugo Gorringe
University of Edinburgh
Irene Rafanell
University of Paisley
ABSTRACT
Caste is often presented as a stable or fixed form of social stratification that conditions the behaviour of its members. This occludes the micro-structural process by which caste is embodied. This article uses empirical work on caste protest to discuss the fluid nature of embodied activity, and the analytical utility of two social constructionist accounts: the tacitly pre-given structures of Bourdieu’s model are compared to the continuous creation model of Foucault.Whereas the internalized structures of Bourdieu’s habitus initially appear to make most sense of the embodiment and permanence of caste, we contend that a Foucauldian approach offers better insight into the interactional basis of social structures and identity formation.The article reconsiders both theories
Hugo Gorringe and Irene Rafanell Sociology 2007 41: 97 DOI: 10.1177/0038038507074721 The online version of this article can be found at: http://soc.sagepub.com/content/41/1/97
Published by: http://www.sagepublications.com On behalf of:
British Sociological Association
Additional services and information for Sociology can be found at: Email Alerts: http://soc.sagepub.com/cgi/alerts Subscriptions: http://soc.sagepub.com/subscriptions Reprints: http://www.sagepub.com/journalsReprints.nav Permissions: http://www.sagepub.com/journalsPermissions.nav Citations: http://soc.sagepub.com/content/41/1/97.refs.html
Downloaded from soc.sagepub.com at FUDAN UNIV LIB on May 26, 2013
>> Version of Record - Feb 12, 2007 What is This?
Downloaded from soc.sagepub.com at FUDAN UNIV LIB on May 26, 2013
Sociology
Copyright © 2007 BSA Publications Ltd® Volume 41(1): 97–114 DOI: 10.1177/0038038507074721 SAGE Publications London,Thousand Oaks, New Delhi
The Embodiment of Caste: Oppression, Protest and Change
Hugo Gorringe
University of Edinburgh
Irene Rafanell
University of Paisley
ABSTRACT
Caste is often presented as a stable or fixed form of social stratification that conditions the behaviour of its members. This occludes the micro-structural process by which caste is embodied. This article uses empirical work on caste protest to discuss the fluid nature of embodied activity, and the analytical utility of two social constructionist accounts: the tacitly pre-given structures of Bourdieu’s model are compared to the continuous creation model of Foucault.Whereas the internalized structures of Bourdieu’s habitus initially appear to make most sense of the embodiment and permanence of caste, we contend that a Foucauldian approach offers better insight into the interactional basis of social structures and identity formation.The article reconsiders both theories
Citations: http://soc.sagepub.com/content/41/1/97.refs.html Downloaded from soc.sagepub.com at FUDAN UNIV LIB on May 26, 2013 >> Version of Record - Feb 12, 2007 What is This? Downloaded from soc.sagepub.com at FUDAN UNIV LIB on May 26, 2013 ‘I t would not be difficult for an Indian to identify an Untouchable’,1 according to Jeyaharan, academic and social activist: ‘The very way of dressing, the use of vocabulary, and the gestures adopted would reveal who she/he is’ (1992: 97 Downloaded from soc.sagepub.com at FUDAN UNIV LIB on May 26, 2013 Downloaded from soc.sagepub.com at FUDAN UNIV LIB on May 26, 2013 The embodiment of caste Downloaded from soc.sagepub.com at FUDAN UNIV LIB on May 26, 2013 100 Downloaded from soc.sagepub.com at FUDAN UNIV LIB on May 26, 2013 The embodiment of caste