[derefr]

How about: not an inherent trait, but rather an endemic and “parasitic” meme? (Like the popular belief in eugenics in many countries in the 1930s; or the belief of several colonial powers—but mainly Britain—in the inferiority of aboriginal tribes’ values and beliefs during the Age of Exploration; or the belief in Varna [caste] as a popular interpretation of dharma within Hinduism; or the belief within Islam that a “jihad of the sword” can permit civilian targets.)

These sort of memes come along and “infect” a culture, saturating it — or at least the more vulnerable-to-manipulation populations within it — with these views; and they can stick around for decades or centuries. But, they aren’t intrinsic to the culture; eventually the culture stops believing these memes, because believing them offers no real benefit (thus the “parasitic” part.) If/when they do get over them, the culture as a whole tends to feel ashamed that they ever did believe them.

[badl]

Why do you think Varna and Caste are the same? [1]

1. https://hinduism.stackexchange.com/questions/39862/are-varna...

[derefr]

I don't; I meant to talk about Varna. But how do you localize "Varna" to English for someone who not-very-familiar with Hinduism? Most English-speaking people don't even know what caste is.

[saynotobloat]

Caste based discrimination is not a meme. It’s deeply rooted in more than half of the Indian population and has taken root in the United States along with migrants who brought it along with them and teach their children these “values” https://www.npr.org/2020/09/21/915299467/how-to-be-an-anti-c...

[j-pb]

That's what a meme is, as originally defined.

A singular cultural trait or idea that replicates.