anthropology - kinship, marriage, descent

kinship

the system of meaning and power that cultures create to determine who is related to whom and to define their mutual expectations, rights, and responsibilities

family of orientation

family into which one is born and grows up

family of procreation

formed when one has children, often after marriage or partnership

nuclear family

kinship unit of parents and children who normally live together in the same household

extended family

extend beyond the nuclear family and can include uncles and aunts, grandparents, and other relatives who live together

neolocality

married couples begin a new residence away from their parents

matrilocality

married couple lives with the wifes family; associated with matrilineal descent and less common than patrilocality

patrilocality

married couple lives with the husbands family; associated with patrilineal descent and more common than matrilocality

descent group

groups based on consanguineal (blood) relation.

non-biological kinship

related through other social processes, including choice

unilinear descent

descent rule that uses one line only, either the male or the female

matrilineal descent

individuals automatically join the mothers descent group when they are born

patrilineal descent

individuals automatically join the fathers descent group when they are born

biological kinship

related by “blood” through reproduction

affines

related by marriage (in-laws)

marriage

a socially recognized relationship that may involve physically and emotional intimacy as well as legal rights to property or inheritance

exogamy

practice of seeking a spouse outside one’s own group

incest taboo

varies widely from culture to culture

parallel cousins

children of mothers sisters or fathers brother

endogamy

marriage of people from the same group

cross cousins

children of mothers brother or father sister

arranged marriage

marriage orchestrated by the families of the involved parties

companionate marriage

marriage built on love, intimacy, and personal choice rather than social obligation

polygamy

being married to more than two spouses simultaneously

polygyny

a man has more than one wife, the more common form of polygamy

polyandry

a woman has more than one husband, rare

divorce

rates in US are dropping, possibly due to increasing economic hardship; rising age of those who marry; and an increase in individuals living in domestic partnerships. cross culturally high divorce rates are correlated with a secure female economic position.