4 ms·

Vast social networks, family, friends of friends. Your identity is tied to who you are and very many people who you know in your town either knows your family o

Vast social networks, family, friends of friends. Your identity is tied to who you are and very many people who you know in your town either knows your family or knows someone who knows your family. Indians have very extensive social ties

alkonaut 5y ago
But it’s also a huge country with lots of people. If I move to a different city (e.g for school) and know no one, then apply for a job. What is the thought process and actions of a hiring manager who is discriminating on caste? Will they try to figure out who my relatives are? How? Would I be asked about relatives in an interview? What happens if I just shrug and say I’m from city X and I went to school in city Y and here I am? I understand that those who have lots of social captital have it tied to a network and a place such as a town. They would want to stay in that network to use their capital. For example move back home after studying. But for those with little or even “negative” social capital (ie you are better off with no background than your actual background), why aren’t they more mobile or even just claiming they are?
- sumedh 5y ago
  > Will they try to figure out who my relatives are? How? Would I be asked about relatives in an interview? For tech jobs no one is going to ask these questions.
- izacus 5y ago
  You're thinking in the wrong direction - if you'd live in such society you'd understand that you're not trying to prove a negative ("you're from the wrong case"), but you need to prove a positive ("you're from the right circles, someone the boss knows knows you"). It's like getting in to american closed society - they'll check your social ties and if noone can vouch for you or know you, you're immediately suspect. And those checks aren't made in your face - it's usually in the background and async.

4 ms·

Vast social networks, family, friends of friends. Your identity is tied to who you are and very many people who you know in your town either knows your family o

by chillage 5y ago

alkonaut 5y ago
But it’s also a huge country with lots of people. If I move to a different city (e.g for school) and know no one, then apply for a job. What is the thought process and actions of a hiring manager who is discriminating on caste? Will they try to figure out who my relatives are? How? Would I be asked about relatives in an interview? What happens if I just shrug and say I’m from city X and I went to school in city Y and here I am? I understand that those who have lots of social captital have it tied to a network and a place such as a town. They would want to stay in that network to use their capital. For example move back home after studying. But for those with little or even “negative” social capital (ie you are better off with no background than your actual background), why aren’t they more mobile or even just claiming they are?
- sumedh 5y ago
  > Will they try to figure out who my relatives are? How? Would I be asked about relatives in an interview? For tech jobs no one is going to ask these questions.
- izacus 5y ago
  You're thinking in the wrong direction - if you'd live in such society you'd understand that you're not trying to prove a negative ("you're from the wrong case"), but you need to prove a positive ("you're from the right circles, someone the boss knows knows you"). It's like getting in to american closed society - they'll check your social ties and if noone can vouch for you or know you, you're immediately suspect. And those checks aren't made in your face - it's usually in the background and async.