Untouchability and societal changes

Type :

Presentation

Pages :

6 pages

Format :

.doc

Published date :

11/17/2008

Category :

Political science

Sub category :

Social sciences

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Summary :

Introduction.
1. Those marked as untouchables and to those equally stigmatized.
2. Liberation of the outcastes.
The origin of Japan's untouchable class.
1. The creation of the Meiji government.
2. Civic leaders at the beginning of the 1900's.
3. The Suiheisha - the antecedent to the modern Buraku Liberation League.
The birth of the caste system in India.
1. India's castes - outnumber the four main castes.
2. Reformation as a chance to legally end the discrimination.
3. A look at recent events in India.
Conclusion - Common history between the two untouchable communities.

Abstract

How quickly can a prevailing attitude shift? What forces can bring about drastic changes in the structure of a society, and how quickly can that change be enacted? How long does it take for crippling stereotypes to disappear? These questions are central to those marked as untouchables, and to those equally stigmatized. The plight of the untouchable class is mostly known in context of the Indian caste system. Many people are unaware of the existence of similar classes in other countries. India's caste system finds logical extensions in other parts of the subcontinent. Thus, countries like Nepal and Pakistan have similar caste systems, with some accounts putting Nepal's untouchable class at about 20% of its population (hrw.org).