The term “pariah” originally referred to people in lower social positions, particularly in India’s caste system. Today, it is used to describe social outcasts in general. Once someone becomes a pariah, it can be difficult to shake the label and make social connections.
A pariah is a social outcast. Originally, the word was used to refer to people in hereditary positions of lower class or social status; the term is also used today to describe outcasts in general, hereditary or otherwise. In general, the position of a pariah is undesirable, as it is accompanied by disrespect, authority and access to society at large.
The term comes from the Pariah caste, a caste in parts of India and Sri Lanaka that is similar to the Untouchables, the lowest caste in India’s traditionally very strict caste system. The term comes from the Tamil paraiyan, meaning “drummer”, with the implication that this position is hereditary and traditionally despised; paraiyan itself comes from parai, a type of drum used in Indian festivals.
The use of the word “pariah” was first recorded in English in 1613 and the term was clearly brought to Europe by British colonists. Europeans have used the term incorrectly for all low caste people in regions with caste systems and sometimes for people without caste as well. In the 1800s, the modern sense of the word as a more general social outcast emerged, separating it from its traditional meaning to English speakers.
There are many ways to become a pariah in modern society. In many cultures, people of low economic and social class are viewed as pariahs, and can face serious barriers as they try to make their way in society. Lower-class individuals often fight for acceptance and equal access to services even in nations that claim to have no class systems. It is also possible to turn into a pariah, as might be the case for someone who commits a socially unacceptable act.
Once someone becomes a pariah, it can be hard to shake the label. Outcasts are often highly ostracized, making it difficult for them to make social connections and bonds of friendship with other people. People often try to avoid socializing with pariahs both because they are seen as socially undesirable and because they fear being connected to pariahs in the public eye. As many politicians can testify, being associated with a pariah can be devastating to a social and political career.
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