What social structure is determined by birth and often restricts marrying outside one’s social class?

The caste system is a social structure that is rigidly defined by birth and as such, individuals are born into a specific caste that determines their social status, occupation, and often their interactions and relationships with others. In this system, social mobility is extremely limited; individuals remain within the same caste throughout their lives, and this typically extends to restrictions on marriage.

Inter-caste marriage is generally frowned upon or forbidden, preserving the boundaries established by caste distinctions and maintaining social stratification. Caste systems are most commonly associated with specific cultures, notably in South Asia, where traditions and laws regulate who can marry whom and dictate social behavior based on caste identity.

In contrast, the class system allows for more fluidity and mobility based on economic status, which could enable individuals to move between classes or to marry across class lines. The feudal system, while hierarchical, is more about land ownership and obligations in a medieval context rather than rigid social stratification by birth. Sociocultural structure does not specifically address the hereditary nature of social standing or restrictions related to marriage.