Family and Relationships

Question 1

Kinship

Answer 1

The anthropological, cross-cultural study of family composition, marriage, and descent patterns

One of the first things studied by sociocultural anthropologists

Question 2

Ethnographic Present

Answer 2

Use of present tense to describe a culture even when the description refers to situations that existed in the past

Often used because people are always changing

Ethnography has to “stop time” at least somewhat or it can never be written

Be aware of the ethnographic present when reading and writing

Question 3

Nuclear Family

Answer 3

Parents + Children (both biological and adopted)
Use of present tense to describe a culture even when the description refers to situations that existed in the past

Often used because people are always changing

Ethnography has to “stop time” at least somewhat or it can never be written
Be aware of the ethnographic present when reading and writing

Question 4

Bilateral kinship

Answer 4

tracing descent through both parents

Nuclear families in Canada

Question 5

Matrilineal kinship

Answer 5

tracing descent through mothers side only

-Cherokee clans, Judiasm

Question 6

Patrilineal Kinship

Answer 6

Tracing descent through the fathers side only

-tharu of india and Nepal

Question 7

How are families formed and maintained?

Answer 7

Clans, totems, and moieties

Question 8

Clans

Answer 8

Groups of people related by descent
Can be actual or perceived descent
Usually exogamous

Question 9

Totems

Answer 9

Symbolic belief system where humans are believed to share kinship with an animal or plant

Question 10

Moiety system – dual organization

Answer 10

Society that is divided into two main groups

Usually matrilineal or patrilineal descent

Usually exogamous
Each group usually has a totem

Question 11

Extended families

Answer 11

Organized around bilateral kinship

Groups that you can join only through marriage

Question 12

Courtship Norms

Answer 12

Dating

Arranged marriage

Question 13

Incest

Answer 13

sexual relations among kin of certain categories, depending on the kinship structure

Can include brothers, sisters, cousins, aunts, uncles, etc

In some societies, the incest taboo is very complex

Question 14

Endogamy

Answer 14

Marrying only within the limits of a local community, clan or tribe ex, royalty in Europe

Question 15

Exogamy

Answer 15

marry outside the limits of a local community, clan, or tribe

In most societies we see exogamy from descent/kinship groups

Question 16

What is monogamy?

Answer 16

Sexual exclusivity between two partners?
A two-party partnership, characterized by cooperation where resources are shared and children are produced?
A genetic commitment to producing offspring with a single partner?
A social system in which only two people at a time are contracted by marriage ?