Kinship, Marriage, and Family

kinship

system of social relationships based on marriage and birth

affinity

kinship relationships created by marriage

consanguinity

kinship relationships based on birth or ‘blood’ ties

descent

kinship rule that connects people based on shared ancestry; establishes a person’s membership in a group & determines who they can inherit from & who they have a responsibility to

what are the three main rules of descent?

1. patrilineal

2. matrilineal

3. bilateral

patrilineal descent

traces relatives through males only

matrilineal descent

traces relatives through females only

bilateral descent

traces relatives through males and females simultaneously

descent groups

social groups based on a rule of descent

unilineal descent groups

traces kinship through only one line

phratries

larger unilineal kinship groups composed of multiple clans

lineage

localized group where members can actually trace their genealogical relationship back to a common ancestor

clan

a group whose members believe they are descended from a common ancestor but cannot always trace the specific genealogical links

ramages

an example of bilateral descent groups

family

residential kin group made of at least one couple & their children

nuclear families

one couple & their children

extended families

two or more couples & their children living together or in close proximity

marriage

socially approved union of two people that confers sexual rights & legitimizes children; beyond romance can be strategic union

exogamy

marriage is required to be outside a specific group

endogamy

marriage is required to be within a specific group

monogamy

marriage rule that permits marriage to only 1 person

polygamy

form of marriage where 1 person can be married with more than 1 person @ the same time

polygyny

marriage of 1 man to more than 1 woman

polyandry