Chapter Notes and Summary
• Difference and Prejudice : Differences can only be stated on basis of a comparison or categorization. Whereas, prejudice is an unfavourable opinion or feeling, formed beforehand or without knowledge, thought, or reason.
• Stereotypes : A “stereotype” is a generalisation about a person or group of persons. We resort to prejudice by ascribing characteristics to a person based on a stereotype, without knowledge of complete facts.
It reduces an individual to a rigid image and does not consider fact that human beings are complex and multidimensional with unique attributes. Stereotypes suggest that people or groups of people are same, although they are quite different.
• Caste : A system of rigid social stratification characterised by hereditary status, endogamy and social barriers sanctioned by customs, law and religion.
It refers to any of hereditary social classes or subclasses of traditional Hindu society, stratified according to Hindu ritual purity, namely, Brahmin, Kshatriya, Vaishya and Shudra castes.
• Mahars : Mahars are an important social group within Indian state of Maharashtra and its surrounding states. A group of related endogamous castes, Mahars are largest Scheduled Caste group in Maharashtra.
• Diversity : concept of diversity encompasses acceptance and respect. It means understanding that each individual is unique, and recognizing our individual differences. These can be along dimensions of race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, age, physical abilities, religious beliefs, political beliefs, or other ideologies.
• Constitution : fundamental law, written or unwritten, that establishes character of a government by defining basic principles to which society must conform.