Sociology I · 10 marks · 150 words

According to the recent findings, middle classes in India are excluding themselves from society. Critically examine the factors responsible for their self-exclusion.

Answered by 3 toppers · CSE 2017–2021

Equality, Inequality and ExclusionClass, Status, Gender and RaceSocial Mobility

Syllabus: Stratification and Mobility: (a) Concepts- equality, inequality, hierarchy, exclusion, poverty and deprivation. (b) Theories of social stratification- Structural functionalist theory, Marxist theory, Weberian theory. (c) Dimensions – Social stratification of class, status groups, gender, ethnicity and race. (d) Social mobility- open and closed systems, types of mobility, sources and causes of mobility.

How toppers approached it

From all 3 answers · about 210 words.

Opening

  • A definition2 of 3
  • No separate opening1 of 3

Body

  • Points2 of 3
  • Points and prose1 of 3

Close

  • A way forward2 of 3
  • A summary1 of 3

The toppers’ answers

Priyamvada Ashok MhaddalkarAIR 13 · CSE 2021 · 149 wordsTheir whole copy

Opening · a definition

Middle class refers to the intermediary class in a society between the capitalist-upper class and lower class proletariat.

Body · points

  1. Middle class is an aspirational class that believes in conforming to the culturally defined goals of a society by following institutionalized means of achieving these goals.
  2. Middle class acts as the safety value in society that prevents a Proletariat Revolution.
  3. However it is increasingly observed that middle classes in India excluding themselves from society.
  4. In political sphere -> vote bank politics - while lower classes are lured with money/alcohol, middle class concerns are sidelined.
  5. This manifests in non participation in movements like environment concerns, increasing tendency to study and go abroad.
  6. Increasing consumerism results in the middle class only focus on self aggrandizement.

Close · a way forward

To overcome these issues, it is important to bring about structural changes in the society through appropriate socialization and strengthening democratic institutions.

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The concepts of equality, inequality, hierarchy, exclusion, poverty and deprivation.

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