Lesson 10: Marriage and the Family

In-Group vs. Out-Group Rules of Marriage

Marriage rules d____ whether an individual must choose a p____ from w____ or o____ a s____ s____ u____, such as f____, k___, c____, t____, v____, c____, or c____.

There are two c____ marriage rules: e____ and e____.

dictate, partner, within, outside, specific social unit, family, kin, clan, tribe, village, class, caste

contrasting, exogamy, endogamy

Exogamy

Definition: The c____ or p____ of s____ a m____ o____ of one’s o___ g____.

Social Function: To e____ a____ n____, p____ i___-g___ p____ and c____.

Enforcement: Reinforced by the I____ T____.

custom, practice, seeking, mate outside, own group

expand alliance networks, promote inter-group protection, cooperation

incest taboo

Endogamy

Definition: The c____ or p____ of s____ a m____ w____ one’s o____ g____.

Social Function: To p____ g____ i____, w____, s____ s____, and p____ p____.

Enforcement: Reinforcement is often i____, or q____-e____ (such as s____ c____ and e____), except for f____ s____ like c____.

custom, practice, seeking, mate within, own group

preserve group identity, wealth, social status, political power

informal, quasi-endogamous, social class, ethnicity, formal systems, castes

How is exogamy reinforced?

incest taboo

Exogamy & The Incest Taboo

• Exogamy: S____ a s____ o____ one’s kin or social group has a____ v____ because it e____ e____ s____ n____ that offer a____ s____ and p____ during c___.

• Incest Taboo: The u____ p____ of s____ i____ and m____ between i____ d____ as c____ r____, especially within the n____ f____.
  
  The d____ of i____ v____ c____-c____; for instance, some cultures (like t____ C____ c____) p____ c____ c____ m____ while f____ o____.

seeking, spouse outside, adaptive value, establishes extended social networks, additional support, protection, crises

universal prohibition, sexual intimacy, mating, individuals defined, close relatives, nuclear family

definition, incest varies cross-culturally, traditional Chinese culture permits certain cousin marriages, forbidding others

Exogamy: Theoretical Explanations for the Incest Taboo

1. I____ Theory
   
   B____ e____ stating that a____ m____ between c____ r_____ p____ the p____ of h____ r____ g____, thus r____ g____ d____ in o____.

2. F____ D____ Theory
   
   P_____ and s____ e____ claiming that p_____ s____ r____ w____ the n____ f____ p____ i____ s____ c____, j____, and r____ c____ that could d____ the f____ u____.

3. Theory of E____ S____ A____
   
   S___-p____ e____ asserting that m____ o____ f____ f_____ to e____ p____ t____, a____, and c____ n____ with o____ g____, e____ m____ s____.

inbreeding

biological explanation, avoiding mating, close relatives prevents, passing, harmful recessive genes, reducing genetic defects, offspring.

family disruption

psychological sociological explanation, prohibiting sexual relations within, nuclear family prevents internal sexual competition, jealousy, role confusion, destabilize, family unit

expanding social alliances

socio-political explanation, marrying outside forces families, establish peaceful ties, alliances, cooperative networks, other groups, enhancing mutual survival

Exogamy: Kinship Rules, Descent Groups, & Cousin Typologies

The m____ s____ is a social organization that divides a community into two structural halves or descent groups.

P____ c____ are the children of two brothers (Father’s Brother’s children) or two sisters (Mother’s sister’s children).

C____ c____ are children of a brother and sister (Father’s Sister’s children or Mother’s Brother’s children).

moiety system

parallel cousins

cross cousins

Exogamy: Kinship Rules, Descent Groups, & Cousin Typologies

Moiety System: A s____ o____ that d____ a c____ into t____ s____ h____ or d____ g____.

Parallel Cousins: C____ of t____ b____ (Father’s Brother’s children) or t____ s____ (Mother’s Sister’s children).

• They belong to the s____ d____ g____ as E___.

• Viewed as e____ to b____/s____ and are s____ e____ as p____ m____ (mating is i____).

Cross Cousins: C____ of a b____ and a s____ (Father’s Sister’s children or Mother’s Brother’s children).

• They belong to the o____ d____ g____/m____ from E___.

• P____ or p____ as m____ p____ because s____ with cross cousins is n___ c____ i____.

Ethnographic example: Y____ people from the A____ B____

• M____/s___ with c____ c____ is p____ and p____, whereas s___ with p____ c____ is s____ f____ as i____.

social organization, divides, community, two structural halves, descent groups

children, two brothers, two sisters

same descent group, Ego

equivalent, brothers/sisters, strictly excluded, potential mates, incestous

children, brother, sister

opposite descent group/moiety, Ego

permitted, preferred, marriage partners, sex, not considered incestous

Yanomami, Amazon Basin

marriage/sex, cross cousins, proper, preferred, sex, parallel cousins, strictly forbidden, incestous

Types and Manifestations of Endogamy

1. H____ is the practice of marrying an individual with similar social, economic, or cultural attributes.

2. A____ m____ is the selection of a spouse is controlled by parents or family elders rather than the individuals marrying.

3. The I____ c____ s____ is an example of extreme endogamy.

4. R____ e____ was practiced to consolidate power, protect wealth, and maintain elite social status.

homogamy

arranged marriage

Indian caste system

royal endogamy

Endogamy & Its Cultural Expressions

Endogamy: P____ to m____ g____ b____, s____ i____, or c____ i____.

M___ s____ practice endogamy i____ w____ w____ r____.

1. Homogamy

• Definition: The practice of m____ an individual with s____ s____, e____, or c____ a____ (such as c____, r____, e____ etc.).

• Manifest Function: For c____, s____ l____, or r____ s____.
  
  

• Latent Function: To c____ w____ w____ s____ s____ and r____ s____ s____ and c____ i____.

2. Arranged Marriage

• Definition: The s____ of a s____ is c____ by p____ or f____ e____ rather than the individuals marrying.
  
  

• Function: E____ e____ m____ within specific r____, e____, or s____ l___.

3. The Indian Caste System (E____ E____)

• Requires individuals to m____ w____ their s____ c____
  
  

• Function: To u____ b____ regarding r____ p____.
  I___-c____ s____ c____ causes s____ c____.
  
  

• Gender Asymmetry: H___-c___ m___ who engage in sexual relations with lower-caste women can r____ p____ through p____ and r____ b____. However, h____-c____ w____ who engage in intercourse with lower-caste men are p____ d____ to p____ the b____ and s____ p____ of the l____.

4. Royal Endogamy (Sibling / Incestous Marriage)

• Examples: A____ E____, I____ E____ (P___), and T____ H____.

• Function: C____ were subject to s___ i____ t____, but r____ r____ e____ in b____-s____ m____ to c____ p____ p____, p____ r____ b____, and p____ w____ d____.

practiced, maintain group boundaries, social inequality, cultural identity

most societies, informally without written rules

homogamy

marrying, similar social, economic, cultural attributes, class, religion, ethnicity

companionship, shared lifestyles, romantic suitability

concentrate wealth within socioeconomic strata, reinforce social stratification, class inequality

selection, spouse, controlled, parents, family elders

ensures endogamous marriage, religious, ethnic, socioeconomic lines

extreme endogamy

marry within, specific caste

uphold beliefs, ritual purity

inter-caste sexual contact, spiritual contamination

high-caste men, restore purity, prayer, ritual bathing

high-caste women, permanently defiled, protect biological, social purity, lineage

ancient Egypt, Inca Empire, Peru, Traditional Hawaii

commoners, strict incest taboos, ruling royals engaged, brother-sister marriage, concentrate political power, preserve royal bloodlines, prevent wealth dispersion

Rules Regarding the Number of Spouses

Societies establish n____ r____ regarding whether individuals may take a s____ spouse or m____ spouses.

Two Contrasting Rules:

1. M____

2. P____

normative rules, single, multiple

monogamy

polygamy

Monogamy

Definition: A form of m____ involving o____ o___ s____ a__ __ t____.

Varieties

1. H____ Monogamy

• Definition: Marriage between o__ m___ and o__ w____.
  
  

• S____ in m____ l____ s____ and m____ w____ r____ (C____, J____, H____), where p____ m____ is i____ or d____.

2. H____ Monogamy

• Definition: Marriage between two individuals of the s____ b____ s____.

• R____ across v____ h____ and c____ s____, sometimes with o___ p____ a____ a d____ s____ c____ g____ r____.

3. S____ Monogamy

• Definition: The p____ of having a s____ of m____ p____ over a l____, but s____ o____ a__ __ t____.
  
  

• D____ l____ to r____ m____ d____ r____.

marriage, only one spouse at a time

heterosexual

one man, one woman

standard, modern legal systems, major world religions, Christianity, Judaism, Hinduism, plural marriage, illegal, disapproved

homosexual

same biological sex

recognized, various historical cultural settings, one partner assuming, distinct socially constructed gender role

serial

practice, succession, marriage partners, lifetime, strictly one at a time.

directly linked, rising modern divorce rates

Serial Monogamy: Six Factors Influencing High Divorce Rates

1. P___-w___ s____ d____

2. M____-m____ r____ s____ (such as among the H____ people)

3. H____ f____ and s____ i_____ among w____

4. A____ of s____ j____ p____ i____ b____ s____

5. Marriage treated as p____ i____ c____ rather than political/kinship alliances

6. M____ e____ of m____ g____ or p____ during m____ f____.
   
   

post-war social disruption

matrilineal-matrilocal residency systems, Hopi

high financial, social independence, women

absence, substantial joint property investments between spouses

personal individual choices

minimal exchange, marital gifts, property, marriage formation

Marital Property Exchanges

A l____ is a marital gift from the groom and his family to the bride and her family.

A d____ is a marital gift from the bride and her family to the groom and his family.

lobola

dowry

Marital Property Exchanges

1. Lobola (Bride Price): A s____ m____ g____ from the g____ and his kin to the b____ and her kin.

• Purpose: To c____ the b____ g____ for the l____ of her l____, c____, and r____ c____.

2. Dowry: A s____ m____ g____ from the b____ and her kin to the g____ and his kin.

• Purpose: To c____ the g____ g____ for t____ on the a____ e____ r____ of s____ the w____.

substantial marital gift, groom, bride

compensate, bride’s group, loss, labor, companionship, reproductive capacity

substantial marital gift, bride, groom

compensate, groom’s group, taking, added economic responsibility, supporting, wife

Rules of Marital Continuation in Monogamy

S____ is a custom in which a widower marries the sister of his deceased wife.

L____ is a custom in which a widow marries the brother of her deceased husband.

sororate

levirate

Rules of Marital Continuation in Monogamy

1. Sororate: A c____ c____ in which a w____ m____ the s____ of his d____ w____.

2. Levirate: A c____ c____ in which a w____ m____ the b____ of her d____ h____.

Purpose: To e____ a____ c____ between f____ l____ and g____ s____ for c____.

cultural custom, widower marries, sister, deceased wife

cultural custom, widow marries, brother, deceased husband

ensure alliance continuity, family lines, guarantee support, children

Polygamy (Plural Marriage)

Definition: A form of m____ in which an individual has t___ o__ m____ s____ s____.

• W____ in n__-i____ s____ and s____ r____ g____ (such as M___ c____ and some M____ g____).

• Demographic Constraint: Societies that approve polygamy c____ p____ it u____ because h____ p____ m____ roughly e____ b____ s____r____ (~1:1)

marriage, two or more spouses simultaneously

widespread, non-industrial societies, some religious groups, Muslim communities, Mormon groups

cannot practice, universally, human population maintains, equal biological sex ratios

Polygamy: Polygyny - Social Approval vs. Real-Life Frequency

Polygyny: A form of plural marriage in which o___ m____ is married to t___ o__ m___ w____ s____.

C____-w____ a____ of p____ d____ n___ m____ a___ m___ have multiple wives; m____ men remain m____ due to s___ r____ b____.

one man, two or more women simultaneously

culture-wide approval, polygyny does not mean all men, most, monogamous, sex ratio balance

Types of Polygamy (Plural Marriages)

1. P____ is a form of polygamy in which one man is married to two or more women simultaneously.

2. P____ is a form of polygamy where one woman is married to two or more husbands at the same time.

polygyny

polyandry

Five Reasons and Functions for Polygyny (One Husband + Multiple Wives)

1. M____ A____ G____ [Reason]
   
   M___ m____ m____ l____ in life (ages 18--30) than women (ages 12--14), c____ an e____ of w____ who are a____ into p____ h____.

2. P____, W____, & L____ O____ [Function]
   
   Multiple wives i____ h____ l____ p____ and serve as a s____ s____.
   
   Example: Among the K____ of N____, the number of wives directly signals a man’s wealth and prestige.

3. W____ P____ (L____ I____) [Function]
   
   I____ a d____ b____ w____ p____ young c____ and p____ f____ c____.

4. P____ G____ & I____ [Function]
   
   Example: King of M____ (M____) maintained __ w____ and b___ i____ p____ for e____ across __ p_____ to s____ r____ c____.
   
   Example: King of B____ (U____) married w____ r____ e____ c____ in the n____ to m____ p____ u____.

5. D____ W____ S____ [Function]
   
   S____ w____ may r____ a s____, l____-s____ c__-w____ to s____ h____ d____ d____.

marital age gap

men marry much later, creating, excess, widows, absorbed, polygynous households

prestige, wealth, labor output

increases household labor productivity, status symbol

Kanuri, Nigeria

widow protection, levirate inheritance

inheriting, deceased brother’s widow protects, children, preserves family care

political governance, integration

Merina (Madagascar), 12 wives, built individual palaces, each, 12 provinces, secure regional control

Buganda (Uganda), women representing every clan, nation, maintain political unity

domestic workload sharing

senior wives, request, second, lower-status co-wife, share heavy domestic duties

Occurence of Polyandry (One Wife + Multiple Husbands)

E____ r____ practice c____ in s____ r____ (T____, N____, I____, S__ L____) under s____ e____ c____.

extremely rare, concentrated, specific regions (Tibet, Nepal, India, Sri Lanka), specialized economic conditions

Three Reasons and Functions for Polyandry

1. A____ to M____ O____ M____ [Function]
   
   F____ in societies with c____ m____ t____ for t____, c____, or m____ o____, e____ at least o___ h____ r____ at home to o____ d____ t____.

2. F____ P____ & R____ P____ [Function]
   
   Example: T____
   
   

• Fraternal Polyandry: M____ b____ s____ a s___ w____

• To p____ f____ l____ h____ and p____ s____ a____ l____ from being s____ into u____ p____ a____ g____.

3. P____ C____ & L____ S____ [Function]
   
   R____ t____ b____ r____ across the community, since a woman can only produce a l____ n____ of c____ r____ of the n____ of h____, p____ r____ and m____ l____ s____ in h____ e____.

functions, customary male travel, trade, commerce, military operations, ensuring, one husband remains, oversee domestic tasks

fraternal polyandry, resource preservation

Tibetans

multiple brothers share, single wife

pool family land holdings, prevent scarce agricultural land, subdivided, unsustainable plots across generations

population control, living standards

restricts total birth rates, limited number of children regardless, number of husbands, preserving resources, maximizing living standards, harsh conditions