Kinship and marriages Flashcards
Descent (lineage) theory
Explores the ways in which consanguineal (defined by blood, origin) relations are structured in various societies.
Alliance theory
Also known as the general theory of exchanges - a structuralist method of studying kinship relations. Developed by Claude Lévi-Strauss. Do not look at descent through blood, but law such as how marriage is fundamental to organization. In many societies, the individual is not the center of the marriage but a larger group - the family decides who you marry.
Incest taboo
Nearly universal taboo that inhibits close blood relatives to have sexual relations. The definition of who are close kin vary in different cultures.
Eriksen: “all known human societies prohibit sexual relations between persons who are classified as close blood kin”
Reciprocity in alliance theory
Looking at how alliances between men can be forged through the exchange of women.
Kinship atom
Basic unit, such as brother-sister, or nuclear family together with the wife’s brother. Created by the incest taboo + male dominance.
Exogamy
marriage outside ‘own group’
Endogamous
marriage within ‘own group’
Elementary systems
Positive marriage rules (with whom or which category should you marry)
Complex systems
Negative marriage rules (with whom or which category should you NOT marry)
Matrilocal
Couple is to live in the household of the bride’s mother
Uxorilocal
Couple is to live with the bride’s family
Patrilocal
Couple is to live with the groom’s father
Virilocal
Couple is to live with the groom’s family
Neolocal
Couple creates new household independent of parents
Polygyny (often called polygamy)
Man marries several women
Monogamy
Marriage between two people. Common in bilateral descent and core family
Polyandry
Woman marries several men, often brothers
Serial monogamy
The practice of engaging in a succession of monogamous sexual relationships
Marriage
Union between people that arranges for the children to be recognized as legitimate by both parents, their families and the larger social group
Primogeniture
Succession goes to first born (son)
Bridewealth
When the groom’s family is required to provide a gift to the bride’s family
Emic explanation:
Entitles man to the woman’s labour
Entitles man to her children
Compensates for her upbringing
Etic explanation:
Reciprocity confirms relationship between lineages/families
Greater guarantee of stability marriage
Status improvement/confirmation
Dowry
When the bride’s family gives/brings goods/money into marriage.
Emic explanation:
Advance on her inheritance
Compensation to the groom(‘s family) for supporting the woman
Problematic aspect: men hate women!
Bride burning
Female infanticide
Arranged marriage
Type of marital union where the bride and groom are primarily selected by individuals other than the couple themselves, particularly by family members such as the parents
Moiety
when a society consists of two kin groups who frequently exchange women between them (a moiety system of exchange) - often creates cross-cousin marriages
Symmetrical alliance system
When two kin groups exchanges women (A to B, B to A) eg a moiety
Asymmetical alliance system
When multiple groups exchange women with each toher (A to B to C to D and back) - cyclical exchange. Reproduces hierarchies/ranking of groups
David Schneider and kinship
Blood was the core symbol of kinship in the United States. Kin solidarity was derived from a combination of two cultural sources:
relationship as “natural substance” (order of nature)
relationship as “code for conduct” (order of law)
Levirate
Widow marries brother in law (brother of deceased)
