Which of the following would anthropologists not consider a caste?
A) the Eta of Japan
B) Blacks in the American South in segregation days
C) Anthropologists would classify all of these groups as castes.
D) the Camar (leather-workers) of India
I'll be glad to check your answer.
D is spelled wrong. A better spelling is Chamars (plural).
C and D should be reversed, in my opinion. It is a bad question from two aspects
C and D should be reversed.
The question should have been: Which of the following would anthropologists not consider a caste?
C and D should be reversed, with the new D written None of the above is correct.
The correct answer is D) the Camar (leather-workers) of India.
To determine which of the options anthropologists would not consider a caste, we first need to understand what a caste is. A caste is a social group that is strictly defined by birth and has specific privileges and restrictions attached to it. It is based on the idea of hereditary occupation and typically determines a person's social status, occupation, and marriage opportunities.
Let's analyze the given options:
A) The Eta of Japan: The Eta were historically considered a separate, low-ranking social group in Japan, associated with occupations such as butchering animals, leatherworking, and executioners. They experienced significant social discrimination, restrictions, and exclusion. However, anthropologists would consider the Eta as a caste because they fulfill the characteristics of a social group with specific privileges and restrictions based on birth.
B) Blacks in the American South in segregation days: During the era of segregation in the American South, African Americans faced racial discrimination, legal segregation, and systemic oppression. However, it is important to note that a caste is primarily determined by birth rather than race or ethnicity. Although African Americans experienced social inequalities and limited opportunities at that time, they would not be considered a caste by anthropologists because castes are primarily associated with a more rigid system of social stratification based on birth.
C) Anthropologists would classify all of these groups as castes: This option implies that anthropologists would consider all the mentioned groups as castes. However, this statement is incorrect because the previous analysis already established that not all the groups fulfill the criteria to be classified as castes.
D) The Camar (leather-workers) of India: The Camar, also known as the Chamar, are a social group in India traditionally associated with leatherworking, shoemaking, and related crafts. Historically, they have faced social discrimination and exclusion. In the context of India's traditional social stratification system, the Camar are considered part of the Scheduled Castes, which are groups that have faced historical social disadvantage. Therefore, anthropologists would consider the Camar as a caste due to their social status being determined by birth and having specific privileges and restrictions related to their occupation.
In conclusion, the correct answer is B) Blacks in the American South in segregation days. Anthropologists would not consider this group as a caste because, despite facing social inequalities and discrimination, the concept of caste is primarily associated with hereditary occupation and a more rigid system of social stratification, which does not align with the situation of African Americans in the American South during segregation.