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It makes sense that caste would amplify this effect, because unequal treatment is already a cultural norm. In the US, even in most corporate cultures, truly eg

by jonahx 11mo ago

It makes sense that caste would amplify this effect, because unequal treatment is already a cultural norm. In the US, even in most corporate cultures, truly egregious credit stealing is harder. Not to say it never happens, just that people are generally slier about it.

unmole 11mo ago
Yeah, no. The white-collar workforce is almost entirely made up of people from the so called upper castes. The idea that caste has anything to do with the toxic behaviour in corporate India simply doesn't hold up.
- jonahx 11mo ago
  India scores high on the Power Distance Index: https://clearlycultural.com/geert-hofstede-cultural-dimensions/power-distance-index/?utm_source=chatgpt.com https://clearlycultural.com/geert-hofstede-cultural-dimensio... Seems like that would influence the behavior we're talking about. Maybe it's culturally independent of the caste system, but it feels like it would be connected. I don't have much personal experience here so I may be wrong.
  - unmole 11mo ago
    > Maybe it's culturally independent of the caste system Is exactly my point. There seems to be tendency among Western observers to treat the caste system as a catch-all explanation for social dynamics in India. That kind of reductionism doens't have a lot of explanatory value.
    - throwaway2037 11mo ago
      Thank to write this post. It drives me crazy on HN how many people tout this reductionist view of Indian culture. One thing I tell myself: The Indian nation is changing so fast that it is a new country every 10 years.
- throwaway2037 11mo ago
  No way! 100% untrue. There are so many co-workers I have had over the years who were from mid-level to very low caste. Lots of my co-workers grew up where their parents were barely above sustenance/subsistence farming. They worked very hard in school, got into IIT, then their career skyrocketed. In their first year of employment, they earned multiples of their parents. Where I have noticed discrimination in hiring in India is non-Muslims (Hindu, Christian, etc.) hiring Muslims. Generally (and sadly), if a Muslim is hired, they are offered the lowest position. To be clear, I can only speak from my personal experience. Maybe it is different (and better) in other industries.
throwaway2037 11mo ago
> unequal treatment is already a cultural norm I am not from India, but I cringe when I read this sentence. What you wrote is harsh, and untrue. I have met and known well many Indians in my life, and unequal treatment was not the cultural norm for them. More personally: I can remember starting my first job at a big ibank in New York City. I was surprised by how much favouring went on between different ethnic and religious groups. It happens less now, but there was absolutely gate-keeping around these groups.

by jonahx 11mo ago

unmole 11mo ago

Yeah, no. The white-collar workforce is almost entirely made up of people from the so called upper castes. The idea that caste has anything to do with the toxic behaviour in corporate India simply doesn't hold up.

jonahx 11mo ago
India scores high on the Power Distance Index: https://clearlycultural.com/geert-hofstede-cultural-dimensions/power-distance-index/?utm_source=chatgpt.com https://clearlycultural.com/geert-hofstede-cultural-dimensio... Seems like that would influence the behavior we're talking about. Maybe it's culturally independent of the caste system, but it feels like it would be connected. I don't have much personal experience here so I may be wrong.
- unmole 11mo ago
  > Maybe it's culturally independent of the caste system Is exactly my point. There seems to be tendency among Western observers to treat the caste system as a catch-all explanation for social dynamics in India. That kind of reductionism doens't have a lot of explanatory value.
  - throwaway2037 11mo ago
    Thank to write this post. It drives me crazy on HN how many people tout this reductionist view of Indian culture. One thing I tell myself: The Indian nation is changing so fast that it is a new country every 10 years.
throwaway2037 11mo ago
No way! 100% untrue. There are so many co-workers I have had over the years who were from mid-level to very low caste. Lots of my co-workers grew up where their parents were barely above sustenance/subsistence farming. They worked very hard in school, got into IIT, then their career skyrocketed. In their first year of employment, they earned multiples of their parents. Where I have noticed discrimination in hiring in India is non-Muslims (Hindu, Christian, etc.) hiring Muslims. Generally (and sadly), if a Muslim is hired, they are offered the lowest position. To be clear, I can only speak from my personal experience. Maybe it is different (and better) in other industries.

throwaway2037 11mo ago

> unequal treatment is already a cultural norm I am not from India, but I cringe when I read this sentence. What you wrote is harsh, and untrue. I have met and known well many Indians in my life, and unequal treatment was not the cultural norm for them. More personally: I can remember starting my first job at a big ibank in New York City. I was surprised by how much favouring went on between different ethnic and religious groups. It happens less now, but there was absolutely gate-keeping around these groups.