Chapter 8 Flashcards
What is the old and new common law definition of marriage?
Old-Lawful union of one man and one woman
New-Lawful union of two persons to the exclusion of all others.
What are some anthropological definitions of marriage?
Marriage is a union between a man and a woman, child are born to the woman and recognized as legitimate offspring of both partners
Socially approved union between adult partners that regulates the sexual and economic rights and obligations between them
What are some marriage statistics (past and present?)
Pre 1960- unmarried couples in the US were not allowed to own a house or go to a hotel together.
1961- 92 percent of Canadian families were married couples
2011- 67 percent
Since 1981, number of common-law relationships has quadrupled
2006- 29% of all Quebec couples were living in common law.
1967- mixed race couples could marry anywhere in the US.
What are cross cousins and parallel cousins?
Cross- Children of opposite sexed parental siblings
Parallel- Children of same sexed parental siblings
In some societies, the ideal is to marry one’s cross cousin as they belong to a different lineage (alliance purposes), or one’s parallel cousin as they belong to the same lineage (inheritance purposes)
What are some explanations for incest taboo?
Biological- Results in deleterious genes
Psychological- Familiarity breads contempt
Sociological- Increases network of cooperation, alliances, prevents fighting. Minimizes sexual competition and avoids role disruption within a family
What are some same sex statistics?
2001- 0.5% of people reported living in same sex unions
2006-2011- same sex unions tripled. in 2006, only 510 Alberta same sex couples had married, by 2011, it was 3000. Most live in Calgary and Edmonton.
What is bridewealth or brideprice?
A gift of money or goods given to the bride’s kin by the groom or his kin. Most common in patrilineal descent systems. Gives father the right to have the children belong to his group. Compensation to bride’s family for a loss of her services. Status symbol for the families, guarantee of groom’s good behaviour.
What is the dowry?
Transfer of goods or money from the bride’s family to the bridegroom, or the groom’s family. Can be thought of as a woman’s share of parental property, falls under the control of the husband.
What is dowry death?
Bride’s being killed as they did not bring enough dowry. Increased from 400/yr in the 80’s, to 5000/yr in the 90’s, to 7026 in 2005.
How was marriage traditionally a bundle of rights and obligations?
An alliance between kin groups rather than individuals. Transfer or flow of rights from a wife’s group to a husbands group. Rights to labour of men and women, rights to the priority of sexual access, rights over fertility.
What is Canada’s divorce rate percentage?
45
Which country has the highest divorce rate percentage and which has the lowest?
Sweden (55) and India (1.1)
How does divorce play out in non-western countries?
Often involves a contract between corporate groups and is more difficult than in the west. High bridewealth= stable marriage. Low= divorce higher.
What are the principles of Levirate?
If a brother dies without a son, the wife must marry his brother. The first son she bears will carry on the name of the dead brother.
What are the principles of Sororate?
If a wife dies, her lineage may be contractually obliged to provide a replacement (sister, brothers daughter).
What is Nuer Ghost Marriage?
If a Nuer womans husband dies, then she remains subject to a legal contract through which rights to her children are transferred to her husbands group. Ideally, she should remarry her deceased husbands brother, but she may just choose to take lovers. Any children she bears are socially defined as the offspring of her dead husband. Occasionally, an unwed woman may marry the “ghost” of a dead man.
What is afterlife marriage?
Chinese form of ancestor worship. Ancestor is honoured, but also has needs that must be maintained. Traditional chinese beliefs hold that an unmarried life is incomplete, so if an unmarried boy dies then the family will search for a dead woman to be his bride. Once a corpse is obtained, the couple are buried together.
What is polygyny?
One man and two or more women (70% of societies). Most common where women are important contributors to the economy. Advantages for man-Many children, prestige, wealth, sex partners, political alliances with inlaws. Disadvantages-Celibacy for those who do not marry
What are some advantages and disadvantages for polygyny’s women?
Advantages-Prestige and wealth of household, share housework and child care, less child bearing responsibilities, greater freedom and autonomy, companionship, easy marriage
Disadvantages-Conflicting interest in children, jealousy.
Which province has the lowest and highest percentage of one person households?
Lowest-Nunavut. Highest-Quebec.
What is a nuclear family?
Couple and their dependent children, regarded as a social unit. Independent of kin. Disintegrates with death of senior members.
What is Kibbutz?
Idea that nuclear family was obsolete, entire kibbutz should be one big family unit. Children slept in communal childrens houses with a caretaker to attend to their needs. Parents and children both found it distressing.
What is the living situation of the Mundurucu?
Men all live together in a single house with all boys over 13. Women live together with their children and younger boys in 2 or 3 houses grouped among that of men.
What is a household?
Consists of people who occupy the same housing unit.
What is the reconstituted family?
Adults who married previously and bring children from that marriage to the new one.
What is extended family?
Commonly consists of married couple d one or more of their married children, all living in the same house or household. Creates an effective division of labour.
Which province has the least amount of multigenerational households vs the most?
Least- Quebec
Most-Nunavut
What is the complex family?
Each wife in a polygamous relationship has their own household.
