Topic 5 - Kinship

Question 1

Kinship systems vary considerably from one society to another, but there is one universal principle, what is it?

Answer 1

Incest is prohibited.

Question 2

Some kinships are recognized in every society, what are they?

Answer 2

Filiation, siblings, avunculate, and alliance.

Question 3

What is Filiation?

Answer 3

Link between parents and children.

Question 4

What is Avunculate?

Answer 4

Link between uncles, aunts, nephews and nieces.

Question 5

What is Alliance?

Answer 5

Link made by Marriage

Question 6

In many societies, families prefer having sons or having them as a first born, why?

Answer 6

Men inherit family property. Religious/ideological reasons. Pass on family bloodline. Take care of parents in old age. Breadwinners/Workers. Financial backup.

Question 7

What is a nuclear family?

Answer 7

Couple with kids living in a house.

Question 8

What is extended family?

Answer 8

All members of the family, like the uncles, aunts, grandparents etc.

Question 9

What is a Lineage?

Answer 9

Group of individuals of common descent, related to a historical ancestor. Includes Matrilineage and Patrilineage.

Question 10

What is a Clan?

Answer 10

Group of individuals pretending to be related to a common ancestor, real or mythical. Includes many lineages, sometimes a whole village.

Question 11

What is endogamous?

Answer 11

People marry inside the group.

Question 12

What is exogamous?

Answer 12

People marry outside the group.

Question 13

What is the Eskimo System?

Answer 13

No distinction between parallel and cross cousins. Distinction between siblings and cousins.

Question 14

What is the Hawaiian System?

Answer 14

No distinction between siblings, parallel or cross cousins. All are considered brothers and sisters. Aunts and uncles classify as mothers and fathers.

Question 15

What is the Iroquois system?

Answer 15

No distinction between siblings and parallel cousins. Cross cousins and different. Mother’s sisters and father’s brothers are mothers and fathers. Others are aunts and uncles.

Question 16

What is the Sudanese system?

Answer 16

All distinctions are made between siblings, cross cousins and parallel cousins.

Question 17

Rules of descent define what?

Answer 17

Hierarchy, authority and inheritance rules.

Question 18

What is patrilineal descent?

Answer 18

Kinship is traced through the male line. Social rights, name, ancestor line all transmitted through males. Generally Patrilocal.

Question 19

What is patrilocality?

Answer 19

Women must leave their families to join their husband’s family. In the household, men are related and women are not (except those not married yet.)

Question 20

What is Matrilineal descent?

Answer 20

Kinship is traced through the female lines. Social rights, name, ancestor lines. Not necessarily from mother to daughter. From mother’s brother (uncle) to daughter’s brother (nephew.) Not necessarily matrilocal.

Question 21

What is matrilocality?

Answer 21

Men leave their family to join their wife’s family. They don’t all marry out, one man must stay in his own house to assure authority will remain.

Question 22

What is natolocality?

Answer 22

Everyone stays in his/her own lineage. Husbands and wives do not live together. Husbands are sexual partners.

Question 23

What is bilateral descent?

Answer 23

Personal choice to be closer to one line or the other. Households tend to be composed of nuclear families. Residence is neolocal. Couples live in their own place.

Question 24

What is neolocality?

Answer 24

When married, couples move to a new place.

Question 25

Who has the authority in Patrilineal and Matrilineal societies?

Answer 25

Father/Husbands and Maternal Uncles/Brothers respectively.

Question 26

What is autonomous marriage?

Answer 26

“Love marriage”, partners select each other.

Question 27

What is arranged marriage?

Answer 27

The parents select or help select possible partners. Partners select each other with help of parents.

Question 28

What is forced marriage?

Answer 28

Parents select partners with no consultation.

Question 29

What are the rules of endogamy?

Answer 29

You marry someone inside your own village or extended family.

Question 30

What are the rules of exogamy?

Answer 30

You marry someone outside of your village, religion, caste, etc.

Question 31

What is Bride Wealth?

Answer 31

Transfer from the groom’s family to the bride’s family. To compensate for the loss of their daughter and her future children. Can be cattle, jewelry, cash, etc.

Question 32

What is a Dowry?

Answer 32

Transfer from bride’s family to groom’s family. To compensate for the support of an additional woman. Amount paid is sign of prestige.

Question 33

What is monogamy?

Answer 33

Marriage involving two partners. Mostly in industrialized societies. Nomadic and semi-nomadic societies.

Question 34

What is polygamy?

Answer 34

One person having more than one spouse.

Question 35

What is polygyny?

Answer 35

One man with more than one wife.

Question 36

What is polyandry?

Answer 36

One woman with more than one husband.

Question 37

What are some characteristics of polygyny?

Answer 37

Way to gain prestige. Cooperation, solidarity and competition between co-wives. Nearly all men are able to get a wife. Women marry younger than men. Only very rich can get multiples and there is a limit.

Question 38

What are some characteristics of polyandry?

Answer 38

Very rare in the world. Associative: marries unrelated men. Fraternal: Marries many brothers. Prevents division of family land.

Question 39

What is kinship?

Answer 39

Both biological and cultural, may not be blood tires, family links uniting individuals.