Caste; The Origins of Our Discontents
Response Paper
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The book Caste; The Origins of Our Discontents written by Isabel Wilkerson and the movie Origins based on the book and Wilkerson's life, directed by Ava Duvernay displays the realities of the caste system, its definitions, and eight distinct pillars. Additionally it showcases caste’s clear separation from racism, and how they differ entirely.
Before this book I don’t recall having a distinct definition of caste or knowing the difference or separation between our society, racism and caste because they coincide. One of Wilkerson's definitions of caste states that
Just as DNA is the code of instructions for cell development, caste is the operating system for economic, political, and social interaction in the United States from then time of its gestation… American society was not race, but caste, that perhaps it was the only term that addresses what seemed a stubbornly fixed ranking of human value. (Wilkerson, 24)
This definition stood out to me because just like the color of one's skin, hair, eyes, etc. is due to one's DNA and cannot be ‘chosen’ neither can one’s place in the caste system be chosen. Yet solely due to these seemingly meaningless factors, color of one's skin, last name, wealth status all bring negative connotations and beliefs produced through our society to force one into the box of their ranking of caste or their ‘place’. One is deemed as greater or lesser at birth by these uncontrollable factors determining the outcome of how one is treated and their predetermined ‘place’ in the caste system. I believe that these ideas of caste relate to our global studies theme “human rights” because it should be a basic right or human decency to not be placed into a system and ranked based on uncontrollable attributes/ characteristics to follow you around for the rest of your life and determine your ‘place’ in society.
Overall I truly enjoyed this book, one of my favorite parts about reading educational books is to get inspired to research more and/or talk to family members or friends about my findings or learnings within a book. One example of this I can still recall is around the time I was reading about the Indian caste system, my older sister was telling me about her friend from college who is Indian and when she was first introduced to someone who was also Indian after the interaction she immediately went and looked up their last name to see where they lie in the caste system. I then told my sister about all of the facts I had just learned about in great detail from reading this book, and she was really impressed! This moment also stood out to me because I didn’t realize how immersed in society caste was before this book. I didn't love the length of the book and how it felt repetitive at times, and a little dense which I feel might make some of her points get lost. This was a place that challenged me, additionally I was challenged by the topics and ideas brought up within the book because they forced me to take a step back and see what was going on in the world around me and how the rules of caste are not always so visual or easily spotted. The topic of culture and caste systems connected to my past experiences when traveling. Specifically the different culture dynamics that are prevalent in different areas or countries, for example gender roles can be vastly different in other worlds even today. An example of gender role differences I have witnessed / been a role in is from when I traveled to the Dominican Republic for a service trip, when we were carrying heavy supplies and equipment the men that we work with will purposefully give me lighter things or continue to ask if I needed help. Which is a very nice thing to do, but I notice that it isn’t solely out of the kindness of their hearts, they will purposely give the heavier items to the boys. This is not only due to how they were raised but also because of gender ‘roles’ and what is expected of each gender.
The way in which Caste; The Origins of Our Discontents, was portrayed in the film version Origins was at a very intriguing and approachable level. In which I believe the concepts can appeal to a larger age range of people, this includes people of different educations allowing people to better understand and grasp the concepts of caste not only legibly or written but visually. Generally, I feel that I understood the book well, and its concepts. Yet by actually seeing instead of only internally visualizing the concepts of caste in our everyday lives and up until today brings a greater meaning and understanding for me. For example, I remember learning about the Dalits or “untouchables”, the lowest of the low in the Indian caste system cleaning out sewers. I didn't fully realize that this disturbing task was still in motion today and to what extent they had to suffer by. When seeing the real video clips of a Dalit covering himself in oil to protect himself from the bacteria of the waste and literally jumping into the shoulder deep sewage ‘system’ I audibly gasped and my understanding became deeper with a matter of the few minute clip. I believe that the movie Origin will help reach a wider audience than the book, Caste; The Origins of Our Discontents, alone can reach. Additionally I believe that it will help others understand the roles of caste, and understand Wilkerson’s points and how she created her eight pillars of caste. Lastly I feel this movie will help get her point across that caste is not racism or the “R-word” as she would say, they are intertwined but separate and that should be one of the first steps one must take to truly understand the caste system. (Wilkerson, 68)
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