Topic 5 - Kinship Flashcards
Kinship systems vary considerably from one society to another, but there is one universal principle, what is it?
Incest is prohibited.
Some kinships are recognized in every society, what are they?
Filiation, siblings, avunculate, and alliance.
What is Filiation?
Link between parents and children.
What is Avunculate?
Link between uncles, aunts, nephews and nieces.
What is Alliance?
Link made by Marriage
In many societies, families prefer having sons or having them as a first born, why?
Men inherit family property. Religious/ideological reasons. Pass on family bloodline. Take care of parents in old age. Breadwinners/Workers. Financial backup.
What is a nuclear family?
Couple with kids living in a house.
What is extended family?
All members of the family, like the uncles, aunts, grandparents etc.
What is a Lineage?
Group of individuals of common descent, related to a historical ancestor. Includes Matrilineage and Patrilineage.
What is a Clan?
Group of individuals pretending to be related to a common ancestor, real or mythical. Includes many lineages, sometimes a whole village.
What is endogamous?
People marry inside the group.
What is exogamous?
People marry outside the group.
What is the Eskimo System?
No distinction between parallel and cross cousins. Distinction between siblings and cousins.
What is the Hawaiian System?
No distinction between siblings, parallel or cross cousins. All are considered brothers and sisters. Aunts and uncles classify as mothers and fathers.
What is the Iroquois system?
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.
What is the Sudanese system?
All distinctions are made between siblings, cross cousins and parallel cousins.
Rules of descent define what?
Hierarchy, authority and inheritance rules.
What is patrilineal descent?
Kinship is traced through the male line. Social rights, name, ancestor line all transmitted through males. Generally Patrilocal.
What is patrilocality?
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.)
What is Matrilineal descent?
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.
What is matrilocality?
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.
What is natolocality?
Everyone stays in his/her own lineage. Husbands and wives do not live together. Husbands are sexual partners.
What is bilateral descent?
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.
What is neolocality?
When married, couples move to a new place.
Who has the authority in Patrilineal and Matrilineal societies?
Father/Husbands and Maternal Uncles/Brothers respectively.
What is autonomous marriage?
“Love marriage”, partners select each other.
What is arranged marriage?
The parents select or help select possible partners. Partners select each other with help of parents.
What is forced marriage?
Parents select partners with no consultation.
What are the rules of endogamy?
You marry someone inside your own village or extended family.
What are the rules of exogamy?
You marry someone outside of your village, religion, caste, etc.
What is Bride Wealth?
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.
What is a Dowry?
Transfer from bride’s family to groom’s family. To compensate for the support of an additional woman. Amount paid is sign of prestige.
What is monogamy?
Marriage involving two partners. Mostly in industrialized societies. Nomadic and semi-nomadic societies.
What is polygamy?
One person having more than one spouse.
What is polygyny?
One man with more than one wife.
What is polyandry?
One woman with more than one husband.
What are some characteristics of polygyny?
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.
What are some characteristics of polyandry?
Very rare in the world. Associative: marries unrelated men. Fraternal: Marries many brothers. Prevents division of family land.
What is kinship?
Both biological and cultural, may not be blood tires, family links uniting individuals.
