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I saw the situation a bit differently, the upper caste guys would have no problem working with the lower caste ones simply because this meant they never had to

I saw the situation a bit differently, the upper caste guys would have no problem working with the lower caste ones simply because this meant they never had to work. They would pawn off all the work on the others and order them around. And if I tried to force any work on them it just backfired since they just shoved it down the throats of their "slaves". Even trying to embarrass them in a meeting didn't work. With all eyes on them they would just look at me with a look of mild surprise. They simply (and sincerely) could not acknowledge why someone would phrase as a criticism something that for them is so naturally correct. For them it looked like criticizing a farmer for using work horses. I found this as some of the most disgusting behavior I have ever witnessed in a place of work.

mcv 6y ago
Might have been that the situation at my dad's work was actually similar. But if that's their attitude, it still makes me wonder why anyone would hire them. Doesn't this attitude basically make them useless to their employer? As an employer, would you promote the guy who did all the work or the guy who did nothing while taking all the credit?
- buran77 6y ago
  They aren't stupid or lazy, they're just raised with the (mistaken) impression that they're better than everyone else. But they are capable of working, just not doing the same jobs as the lower castes. So they're hired to be the leadership layer. Outside of India they're hired because they do have good qualifications, or because they come with a strong recommendation and connections. And again, they're not incapable of doing their jobs just don;t expect them to do "low end" jobs. And another surprising fact, when I was working together just with someone from a higher caste he would have the same attitude around me that the lower caste guys had around him. So even if in a top caste they'd concede that "the white man is superior". And while I appreciate the conviction they put in the whole class system to the point where they will accept me as being superior based purely on the color of my skin, I still found the whole thing disgusting.
TuringNYC 6y ago
As a New Analyst, I've seen this with Westerners also (nothing to do with "caste" in the specific sense), trying to boss around others and assert dominance based on their University or assumed better training. I think it happens in a lot of circumstances, even if there isnt a name for it in the West.
- mywittyname 6y ago
  I'm sure there's an -ism for most of the discrimination you see in the west. Elitism would be the term I'd use in this case.
- bluGill 6y ago
  There is often a subtle difference: westerners are generally able to understand the situation and decide if they are inferior or note on a case by case basis. When my boss asserts authority that is different from the guy in the desk next to me, and I will react differently. Note that women have just won that position, and often will not fight for their rights like "they should". Also black people may have issues that they may not feel like they dare fight for their rights, though some will. There are signs the mexicans will have the same problems, but I suspect the younger generation will fight. (in all the the above fight is not violence)
  - nicoburns 6y ago
    > westerners are generally able to understand the situation and decide if they are inferior or note on a case by case basis. The scores of westerners who go to 3rd world countries to volunteer at activities they have no prior experience in says otherwise and think they are helping the "poor native people" says otherwise.
    - bluGill 6y ago
      True, but that isn't a situation where everyone is supposed to feel equal.
heavyset_go 6y ago
> I found this as some of the most disgusting behavior I have ever witnessed in a place of work. I've, unfortunately, witnessed this as well in school and in the workplace. > They simply (and sincerely) could not acknowledge why someone would phrase as a criticism something that for them is so naturally correct. This, again unfortunately, is spot on. When called out on such discriminatory behavior, their attitude was that it was rude of the person who called the toxic behavior out to even point it out in the first place.

mcv 6y ago

Might have been that the situation at my dad's work was actually similar. But if that's their attitude, it still makes me wonder why anyone would hire them. Doesn't this attitude basically make them useless to their employer? As an employer, would you promote the guy who did all the work or the guy who did nothing while taking all the credit?

buran77 6y ago
They aren't stupid or lazy, they're just raised with the (mistaken) impression that they're better than everyone else. But they are capable of working, just not doing the same jobs as the lower castes. So they're hired to be the leadership layer. Outside of India they're hired because they do have good qualifications, or because they come with a strong recommendation and connections. And again, they're not incapable of doing their jobs just don;t expect them to do "low end" jobs. And another surprising fact, when I was working together just with someone from a higher caste he would have the same attitude around me that the lower caste guys had around him. So even if in a top caste they'd concede that "the white man is superior". And while I appreciate the conviction they put in the whole class system to the point where they will accept me as being superior based purely on the color of my skin, I still found the whole thing disgusting.

TuringNYC 6y ago

As a New Analyst, I've seen this with Westerners also (nothing to do with "caste" in the specific sense), trying to boss around others and assert dominance based on their University or assumed better training. I think it happens in a lot of circumstances, even if there isnt a name for it in the West.

mywittyname 6y ago
I'm sure there's an -ism for most of the discrimination you see in the west. Elitism would be the term I'd use in this case.
bluGill 6y ago
There is often a subtle difference: westerners are generally able to understand the situation and decide if they are inferior or note on a case by case basis. When my boss asserts authority that is different from the guy in the desk next to me, and I will react differently. Note that women have just won that position, and often will not fight for their rights like "they should". Also black people may have issues that they may not feel like they dare fight for their rights, though some will. There are signs the mexicans will have the same problems, but I suspect the younger generation will fight. (in all the the above fight is not violence)
- nicoburns 6y ago
  > westerners are generally able to understand the situation and decide if they are inferior or note on a case by case basis. The scores of westerners who go to 3rd world countries to volunteer at activities they have no prior experience in says otherwise and think they are helping the "poor native people" says otherwise.
  - bluGill 6y ago
    True, but that isn't a situation where everyone is supposed to feel equal.

heavyset_go 6y ago

> I found this as some of the most disgusting behavior I have ever witnessed in a place of work. I've, unfortunately, witnessed this as well in school and in the workplace. > They simply (and sincerely) could not acknowledge why someone would phrase as a criticism something that for them is so naturally correct. This, again unfortunately, is spot on. When called out on such discriminatory behavior, their attitude was that it was rude of the person who called the toxic behavior out to even point it out in the first place.