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.