Week 7: kinship and reproduction Flashcards
What is kinship?
A system of meaning and power that determines who is related to whom, and helps defines their mutual expectations, rights, and responsibilities.
what is a Bilateral descent?
ancestry traced both the female and male lines
what is a Patrilineal descent?
ancestry traced through the male line
what is a Matrilineal descent?
ancestry traced through the female line
What are Residency norms associating with descent?
reveals gender expectations where patrilineal norms may traditionally place women in subordinate positions due to expectations around residing with or near the husband’s family.
What is marriage?
formalizes kinship and extends relationships beyond the immediate family, often in ways shaped by patriarchy. reflects and reinforces gender norms.
what are the 4 different marriage structures
Monogamy: one spouse
Polygamy: multiple spouses
Polygyny: multiple wives
polyandry: multiple husbands
What is chosen family?
Especially within LGBTQ+ communities, kinship can transcend biological and legal ties. “Chosen families” are kin-like relationships among friends, which can serve as supportive networks that challenge the norms of biological descent or marital ties.
what are 2 connections to inequalities based on gender and sexuality
Gendered Expectations in Kinship: Certain roles are traditionally assigned based on gender, influencing power dynamics and authority within families. In patrilineal systems, for example, men often hold more power, while in matrilineal systems, women’s roles may be more prominent.
Marriage and Inequality: The institution of marriage has been a tool for enforcing patriarchal control, as seen in historical exclusions of women’s autonomy and ongoing exclusions of same-sex couples.
How is motherhood related to gender identity?
Motherhood is often seen as central to womanhood, and fatherhood as central to masculinity, linking biological reproduction to gender identity. For example, infertility carries social stigma in many cultures, as seen in Turkey, where both men and women may experience shame associated with infertility.
what are assisted reproductive technologies (ART)?
Since the late 1970s, ART has provided options for couples experiencing infertility. However, cultural views on these technologies vary, often reflecting gendered expectations about biological parenthood.
what is the controversy surrounding abortion?
Legal and social debates around abortion often center on women’s control over their bodies versus religious or moral arguments. Issues of access to abortion services also highlight inequalities, as seen in Suh’s research, where discrimination in access to reproductive care can limit women’s rights and freedoms.
What is the key argument in Engebretsen’s article?
that LGBTQ+ individuals often create ‘chosen families’ that provide emotional, social, and sometimes financial support, standing in for the biological and legally recognized kin they may be estranged from or not allowed to form.
In engebretsen’s article what is conjugal ideals?
The work examines how heteronormative ideals shape societal expectations of adulthood, particularly around marriage.
What does Engebretsen mean by ‘alternative kinship forms’?
“chosen” families as a prominent form of kinship among LGBTQ+ communities. These are families based on choice and emotional bonds rather than biology or legality, which help LGBTQ+ individuals circumvent restrictions on traditional family formation. This supports the view that kinship is not strictly biological but is instead about mutual care and recognition.
