Introduction
In this chapter you learned about social structure—the underlying patterns of relationships in a group. Statuses and roles are the major elements of social structure. A status, a position a person occupies within a social structure, may be ascribed or achieved. Achieving status is possible when people have some degree of control and choice, as they do in most modern societies. In some societies, however, aspects of a person's life such as religion and social class are ascribed by the family at birth. In this activity you will learn more about a country that has long used a system of ascribed status—India.

Destination Title: The Caste System

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Directions
Start at the Library of Congress Federal Research Division homepage.

• Click on Country Studies.
• Scroll down and click on Browse, then select India from the list of countries.
• Scroll down to Chapter 5 and click on Caste and Class. Read through the information, taking notes as you go.

Use what you have learned to answer the following questions.