ANTH1102 1st Edition Lecture 19 Outline of Last Lecture I Religion and Culture A Methods of Change B Problems w Defining Religion vs Secularism II Kinship Families and Descent A Defining Kinship B Defining Families C Defining Descent i 3 Rules ii 3 Types D Kinship Terminology Calculation and Classification Outline of Current Lecture I What is Marriage II Marriage Systems III Plural Marriages IV Marriage Rules V Marriage Alliances VI Divorce Current Lecture Marriage in almost all societies is a culturally approved relationship transforms the individuals status connects two descent groups is symbolically marked implies certain permitted sexual access establishes legal parenthood creates joint property determines labor relations continues kinship lines is NOT synonymous with mating Marriage is a culturally sanctioned relationship with no procreation required e g Igbo female and female husband marriage Neur ghost marriage Marriage Systems monogamy one spouse polygamy multiple spouses polygyny multiple wives Why polygyny Equalizes sex ratios men marrying late in life economics political reasons polyandry multiple husbands fraternal polyandry a woman marries a group of brothers decreasing competition for heirs of land to create less division and land fragmentation Marriage Rules incest taboo cultural sanctions against sexual relations with a close relative is this a cultural universal strict patrilineal groups promotes exogamy patterns of marriage exogamy vs endogamy exogamy marriage outside a defined social kin group endogamy marriage inside a defined social kin group homogamy marrying someone of similar background caste marriage extreme only marrying someone with the same social status royal marriage marrying within the blood line or only other royal people Marriage Alliances Marriage is more than a relationship between two individuals agreements and alliances are made Wealth exchange between unilineal groups bridewealth husband and his family pay bride s family for loss of a daughter and grandchildren now belong to husband s family dowry payment to the groom s family by the bride s family belongs to the bride and her children inherit it Divorce uncommon in patrilineal groups women have great repercussions for doing it low female gender status more common in matrilineal societies higher gender status for women US Society contradictory social beliefs bilateral kinship systems
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