Race, gender and caste as a hierarchical system (perfected inequality) has become a thing of the past, now it has become more of a competitive system where inequality on the basis of merit (practical inequality) is ingrained in the system. Elucidate with the help of suitable examples.

Race

It is a sociological category of stratification, where a society perceives a group as different & unequal based on biological & social characteristics.

In the past, Blacks were discriminated in terms of income, status, power & denied even basic human rights. (Eg Jim Crow Law for racial profiling & surveillance in USA). Eg → Apartheid in South Africa.

Today, race has emerged has competitive equality. US Constitution provides equal rights to blacks, racism is ablished in South Africa. Eg → US had the first Black President Barack Obama → increasing representation in education & public services.

Gender

Gender is a social construct. Heteronormative order of the past valued heterosexual males over females & LGBT community. Ann Oakley, calls this housewifization. Today, equal rights, legislations & education are giving equality of opportunity. Women's increasing labour force participation → rise of symmetrical family (Willmott & Young).

Recognition of LGBT (eg reading down of Section 377, decriminalising homosexuality in India) are few cases. Eg → merit based recruitment to public services, bureaucracy.

Caste

Caste is an endogamic & segmental category unique to India. Past was defined by socio-civic disabilities, untouchability & poverty for lower castes. With Constitutionalism, rising education, urbanisation & secularisation has helped backward castes climb up. In the realm of market & capitalism, ability & merit makes one successful.

eg → Dalit entrepreneurs Kalpana Saroj, Shiv Nadar

→ farmers (backward caste) competing for exports in globalised world.