w6 Flashcards
kinship
Social relationships that are prototypically derived from the universal human experiences of mating, birth, and nurturance.
Not necessarily rooted in biology— differs cross culturally.
Important: Our model does not apply universally!!!!
consanguineal relatives
by blood
affinal relatives
by marriage
Ethnographic present:
Ethnographic present: The use of the present tense to describe a culture, although the description may refer to situations that existed in the past.
Projections of Eurocentric beliefs
Using our assumptions to describe and analyze other cultures.
Need to re-evaluate our assumptions.
Assumption that kinship is important only in small-scale societies.
The Trobriand Islands:
Live in small groups
Trace their descent through their mother- Matrilineage: a lineage that is formed by tracing descent in the female line.
patriarchy: men have the power
Headed by a brother sister pair with respected partners, lived around watering hole.
They are what we call a natural lineal
Bilateral: mom and dad make me- equally related to both
Matrilineal society or unilineal society: only draw lineage from your mom and the father figure is the uncle- he is the head of the family. the people with all the power is the man- not a matriarchy
Patrileneal society: only draw lineal from your dad- the only relationship that
Unilineal Descent:
: Descent through “one line.”
Power
Power and functions of the family are transmitted by women, but entrusted to men.
only draw lineage from your mom
rural chine- matrileange or patrileneage
In rural china: patrilineage : the relationship with the father is the important relationship. Men identity is defined by the dead and the living lineage. Ancestors role is very important. For this to continue, a boy needs to be born. If they are not born- the lineage ends- has to do with honor, and cultural roots.. This is why sons in china is such a big deal- they are a big happiness, a son is large happiness.
Decent: relationship with which social identity is drawn
Marriage:
the formally recognized union of two people as partners in a personal relationship.
Heteronormative
taboo, incest
Taboo: a social or religious custom prohibiting or forbidding discussion a particular practice or forbidding association with a particular person, place, or thing.
Incest Taboo: A rule that prohibits sexual relations among kin of certain categories
cereal monogomy
one partner at a time but shift partners- have many boyfriend/girlfriends
Typically hetero normal- between man and a women
Across culture this is the same
Euroamerican context: girlfriend/boyfriend start as early as playschool. Average age of marriage in Canada- 28 in women and 31 in men- changes depending on province. We choose based on love and sexual attraction- this is shapped by our incest taboos.
Cultures define our taboo: for example abortion, adultery, beatiality
Incest taboo: brother sister, cousin, parents, - shape who we can marry- not universal- in Egypt, peru and Hawaii- they encourage brother sister marriages
In ancient Egypt- father daughter marriages were also allowed.
Far more likely to marry someone of same class, ethinicity, race, age, background- availability- shaped who is acceptable
Cereal monogomy- one partner at a time but shift partners-
Camoru: 3 marriages: the first one- have to identify by ankles, the second one is a church – typical wedding, the third wedding is in front of a judge
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Marriage in the Trobriand Islands
Courtship starts at a very young age.
Marriage= the formalization of an already existing relationship.
Bridewealth: The values that a groom or his family are expected or obligated to present to the bride’s family.
Brideservice: The requirement that when couple marries, the groom must work for the bride’s parents for some specified time.
Exogamy: A rule that requires a person to marry someone outside his or her own group.
Bridewealth:
The values that a groom or his family are expected or obligated to present to the bride’s family.
Brideservice:
The requirement that when couple marries, the groom must work for the bride’s parents for some specified time.
Exogamy:
A rule that requires a person to marry someone outside his or her own group.
trobriand island
Look for sexual partners at about 11
Can show affection publicly
Sexual activity before marriage is encouraged
No formal marriage ceremony-when she stays the night and doesn’t leave before morning- they are married. Once the mother realises – she makes a whole bunch of yams and bring over to the parents house to show approval, if she doesn’t approve she will come take the daughter back- matriliniage
The uncle collects the bride wealth- that the groom and their family are expected to gie the bride family- usually yams
After the first year in marriage there is a dramatic chage:
Eat in separate places and sexualy contact become private (vs. at the start where they could show publicly)
Men continu to be involved in own matrileage- still takes care of his family but also of his sisters- not technically members of the family (wife and kids) they are part of the matrileage)
Encu=ourage stron relationship between man and wife- the wife can ask for divorse – then go separate ways.
Al trobiand islands belong to one of 4 clans
You cant marry someone from the same clan
Also cant marriage sibling or first cousin- in the same matrileneage
No father daughter relationships
endogamy
have to marry someone of their own clan
Marriage in Rural C hina
Family is centred on the relationship between father and son.
Marriage= more about producing sons.
Patrilineage: A lineage that is formed by tracing descent in the male line.
Dowry: The goods and valuables a bride’s family supplies to the groom’s family or to the couple.
Very little public display of affection.
Patrilineage:
A lineage that is formed by tracing descent in the male line.
Dowry:
The goods and valuables a bride’s family supplies to the groom’s family or to the couple.
Brideservie
: the man is expected to work for the family for a certain number of years (groom side to the bride side
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Focuses on relationship between father and son: marriage is about producing a child- not about love relationship.
Parents look for a child producer for their son- not a son looking for a wife.
Often arranged marriages- when children- made in reasons of status and honour and child- will higher a match maker when boy is 6 or 7 years old- find a good partner for the son- she convinces the brides parents of the arrangement- then they talk about bridewealth
Brideservie: the man is expected to work for the family for a certain number of years (groom side to the bride side
Parents can also adopt a girl to raise it to be their sons wife- this way you don’t have to pay bridewealth.- problem: raising them as siblings –incest taboo
In the event where there is no son (no patrilineage decent)- adopt a boy (which is hard to do- shortage of boys) the adopted boy takes the name and can pass on the patrilineage.
Dowry: never land or house– has to be goods. They do not show public affection
Polygyny:
A form of marriage in which a man is permitted to have more than one wife.
