Abstract
Caste endogamy is one of the main and oldest characteristics of Punjab’s traditional caste system. Rule of endogamy in Punjab specifies that the spouses must be from the similar caste group. Sociologists have long been studying different aspects of caste and caste based discrimination but endogamy, the central feature of caste has mostly been taken as granted without further concern about its causes and health implications. The present mix method research was intended to explore socio-economic determinants of endogamy and its socioeconomic as well as health implications in Punjab. The sample of the present study was comprised of 494 respondents however; responses of 488 respondents were analyzed while 6 responses were excluded for not being complete. Multistage sampling technique was used for the selection of the respondents. The descriptive analysis revealed that genetic diseases were on a high among endogamously married people and their offspring.
Keyword(s)
Endogamy, Caste, Consanguinity, Inbreeding, genetic diseases, Biradari, Upper Caste, Lower Caste