Class 12 Sociology Chapter 3 Social Institutions Continuity and Change

Key Concept: Impact of Development

c) Dispossession of land

[Solution Description] National development projects often result in the dispossession of land for tribal communities due to infrastructure expansion and resource extraction.

Key Concept: Comparative Analysis, Historical Resistance

b) It manifests through both subtle cultural biases and explicit legal sanctions.

[Solution Description] In patriarchal societies, resistance to matrilocal residence—where a married couple lives near or with the wife’s family—stems from inherent threats to male authority and traditional inheritance lines. Historically, such resistance manifested through legal restrictions and societal stigmatization. Contemporary resistance might include lingering cultural biases or pressures against deviating from patrilocal norms, which prioritize male lineage and authority.

Key Concept: Sociopolitical Dynamics

b) By eroding tribal identities

[Solution Description] State policies can significantly influence tribal identity and culture by either promoting assimilation into mainstream society, preserving distinct tribal cultures through protective measures, or through neglect which may lead to erosion of traditional practices. Policies that encourage assimilation or do not protect tribal lands and rights tend towards weakening tribal identities.

Key Concept: Tribal Resistance

c) Due to unfavorable terms of interaction with mainstream society

[Solution Description] Tribal identities often center on resistance due to unfavorable interactions with mainstream society, such as exploitation or marginalization, leading them to preserve their distinct identity and oppose assimilation.

Key Concept: Societal Resistance, Historical Evidence

b) Violent resistance

[Solution Description] Significant shifts in marriage and familial norms, especially those challenging existing power dynamics (like moves towards gender equality), often meet with violent resistance. Such resistance stems from entrenched beliefs and the perceived threat to established social orders.

Key Concept: Tribal Size Variation

d) Andamanese islanders

[Solution Description] The Andamanese islanders have a very small population compared to other larger tribes like the Bhils or Santhals. Their isolated habitat has contributed to this smaller size.

Key Concept: Assimilation Debate

b) Tribes do not incorporate notions of purity and pollution

[Solution Description] One argument against the tribe-caste continuum is that tribes are less hierarchical compared to caste-based societies. Tribes often lack rigid stratification systems, which challenges the idea that they exist along a continuum with castes.

Key Concept: Language and Identity

c) Austric

[Solution Description] Among listed language families, Austric is predominantly associated with tribal groups and includes languages widely spoken by them.

Key Concept: Critical Evaluation, Societal Change Prediction

b) Increasing neolocal residences aligned with job markets

[Solution Description] Migration often leads to relocation based on employment opportunities rather than traditional family locations. This can cause a move away from strict patrilocal residence, supporting a decline, as individuals choose residences closer to work rather than ancestral homes.

Key Concept: Caste and Modern Industry, Economic Basis of Caste

c) It partially disrupts these roles but remains constrained by societal norms.

[Solution Description] The emergence of modern industries typically requires skills that are not necessarily aligned with traditional caste-based occupations. This process can lead to the decline of caste-specific job roles as individuals from various castes take up roles based on skill rather than caste. However, entrenched societal norms may still resist this change, leading to a partial reduction but not elimination of caste-based roles.

The answer is that it partially disrupts these roles but does not eliminate them entirely due to lingering societal norms.

Key Concept: Livelihood Categories

c) Industrial workers

[Solution Description] The mode of livelihood refers to how tribes sustain themselves economically. Common categories include hunting-gathering, fishing, pastoralism, agriculture, and shifting cultivation. Industrial workers do not fall under traditional modes of tribal livelihood.

Key Concept: Role of Family, Economic Influence

c) Encourages equal sharing of domestic responsibilities.

[Solution Description] Dual-income households significantly impact traditional family roles by promoting gender equality and shared responsibilities. Economic necessity requires both partners to contribute financially, leading to more balanced domestic roles. This shift challenges traditional roles where one partner was primarily responsible for income and the other for household duties.