4. Identity & Social Formation

Question 1

The major migratory groups and their settlement, creation of a society, and emergence of a culture have led to

Answer 1

the three major social formations in the region. 
They are
1. Cultural diversity
2. Social stratification
3. Creolisation and Hybridization

Question 2

Social stratification is

Answer 2

The ranking of various social groups within society, based on power, wealth, race, education and heritage

Question 3

Social stratification emerged during

Answer 3

slavery and continues up to post-emancipation.

It was very rigid and inflexible.

Question 4

what challenged the notion of inflexible social stratification

Answer 4

free education

Question 5

diagram of social stratification of the caribbean

Answer 5

check notebook #5

Question 6

Free education gave the people of the Caribbean opportunity to (3)

Answer 6

1) study
2) get good jobs
3) improve economic & social well-being

Question 7

Social stratification so well rooted in Caribbean society that

Answer 7

there is still evidence today

Question 8

evidence of how social stratification so well rooted in Caribbean society that there is still evidence today (4)

Answer 8

1) some schools are seen as superior to others

Queen’s College, Harrison’s College (Barbados)

Queen’s Royal College (Trinidad)

Jamaica’s College, Kingston College (Jamaica)

Parents encourage students to do well in 11+ exams so they may attend these places.

2) Places of abode where heights, terraces and gated communities are seen as better, professions/workplace.
3) Involvement in certain activities like sailing, surfing, social club
4) Churches - some are seen to be better and for richer people than others. (not as rigid as it used to be)

Question 9

Plantocracy is

Answer 9

the influence wielded by planters in society, effectively as a ruling class

Question 10

Intelligentsia are the

Answer 10

intellectual elite

those who have had the benefit of higher education; the intellectual elite comprising of the managerial and professional class.

Question 11

Middle class

Answer 11

A social class made up of skilled workers, professionals, business people, and wealthy farmers

Question 12

Bourgeoisie means

Answer 12

middle class

Question 13

working class are

Answer 13

A social class broadly composed of people working in blue-collar, or manual, occupations.

Question 14

Under/Lower class

Answer 14

The underclass is the segment of the population that occupies the lowest possible position in a class hierarchy, below the core body of the working class

Question 15

Caste is a

Answer 15

a rigid and hereditary social class

Question 16

Social Mobility refers to

Answer 16

movement of individuals and groups between class positions
the movement of individuals from one social class to another. 
This is a characteristic of a meritocracy.
Often achieved through marriage, education or business achievements

Question 17

Cultural Diversification is

Answer 17

Different races, different people, living in a geographic space, practicing their particular way of life or culture. Emphasis on differences

Question 18

Cultural diversification is manifested in the region through (8)

Answer 18

• Language
• Religion
• Sporting interests
• Architecture
• Festivals
• Music
• Legal system
• Culinary practices

Question 19

how cultural diversification is manifested through language

Answer 19

there are many languages

English, Spanish, French, Dutch, Hindi, Patois (St. Lucia), Papiamento (Curacao), Creoles

Question 20

how cultural diversification is manifested through Religion

Answer 20

there are many religions

Christianity (Anglicans/Roman Catholics, Methodists), Muslims, Hindus, Jewish, Rastafarian, Obeah (Jamaica), Voodoo (Haiti), Spiritual Baptist, Mormons

Question 21

how cultural diversification is manifested through Sporting interests

Answer 21

there are many sports

Cricket, Road tennis, Football, Track and field

Question 22

how cultural diversification is manifested through Architecture

Answer 22

there is many architecture

Chattel House, Victorian Era, Georgian

Question 23

how cultural diversification is manifested through festivals

Answer 23

there are many festivals
- Crop Over (Barbados), Vincimass (St. Vincent), Sumefest (Jamaica), Carnival (Trinidad), Creole
Festivals (St. Lucia, Dominica)

Question 24

how cultural diversification is manifested through Music

Answer 24

there is many music

Zouk (French-speaking), Calypso, Reggae, Parang, Spouge, Soca, Dance Hall, Dutty Wine, Bashment

Question 25

how cultural diversification is manifested through the Legal system

Answer 25

• In Guyana, they have a hybrid system and it is called the Roman Dutch traditions
• St. Lucia practices civil law
• rest of English-speaking Caribbean practice common law
• Dutch islands practice civil law based on the Dutch model

Question 26

how cultural diversification is manifested through culinary practices

Answer 26

• Trinidad - Doubles, pealau, callaloo, bake and shark, curried crab, dumplings
• Grenada - ‘ils’ dung, saltfish
• Belize - Bammy (fried cassava cake), bile up (boil up) o
• Barbados - Pudding and Souse, Coucou, conkies, sweetbread, pone
• Jamaica - ackee and salt fish, bammy, peas and rice (read kidney beans)

Question 27

Benefits of cultural diversity

Answer 27

 Little hostility and social cohesion

 good aesthetic beauty across the region pertaining to architecture, like chattel houses, churches, mosques
and temples.

 area can be used for active research by anthropologists

Question 28

Negatives of cultural diversity

Answer 28

 Possibility of ethnic tension, intolerance, hostility, segregation, isolation and non-cooperation

 society can become polarised and can affect the electoral process in terms of people, or a particular ethnic group, voting for a specific party, thus in this kind of environment minority groups can become socially invisible

Question 29

Creolisation is the

Answer 29

combination of the cultures of the Europeans and Africans, as well as other minority groups to
form a Caribbean cultural identity.

Question 30

Creolisation was verbalised by

Answer 30

Edward Kamal Brathwaite

Question 31

Hybridisation is the

Answer 31

process of cultural and ethnic mixing to produce new ‘creole’ forms

Question 32

Manifestations of Creolisation

Answer 32

 Mulattos

 Mestizo

 Douglah

 Creole

Question 33

Mulattos are

Answer 33

European and African

Question 34

Mestizo are

Answer 34

Amerindian and European

Question 35

Douglah

Answer 35

pretty hair and african hair - Indian/African

Question 36

Creole

Answer 36

a person born in the Caribbean