New Books in Sociology

Thiago P. Barbosa, "Racializing Caste: Anthropology Between Germany and India and the Legacy of Irawati Karve (1905-1970)" (de Gruyter Oldenbourg, 2025)

Jun 23, 2025
Thiago P. Barbosa, an Assistant Professor of Anthropology at the University of Leipzig, delves into the intricate relationship between racialization and caste through the work of Irawati Karve. He discusses how Karve challenged the racial hypotheses of her time and addresses the colonial legacies affecting contemporary anthropology. Barbosa also critiques outdated racial classifications in education and explores the intersection of genetics and social factors in understanding caste, emphasizing the need for decolonization in scientific practices.
Ask episode
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
ANECDOTE

Karve's Bold Scientific Contradiction

  • Irawati Karve contradicted a prominent racist hypothesis about skull asymmetry while doing her PhD in Berlin.\n- Despite opposition, she passed with the lowest passing grade and became a key anthropologist in post-colonial India.
INSIGHT

Karve's Complex Legacy

  • Karve used racial methods to study caste origins but shifted towards multiculturalism post-1940s, embracing tolerance.\n- She embodied the tension between critiquing racism and using inherited scientific tools linked to racial thought.
ANECDOTE

Haunting Legacy in Anthropometry Classes

  • Indian anthropology classes still teach anthropometry using methods tied to racial science's history.\n- Students feel awkward facing outdated or racist content embedded in these physical measurement techniques.
Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode
Get the app