Marriage and Societal Relationships

These flashcards cover key vocabulary related to marriage, homosexuality, familial relationships, and social norms explained in the lecture.

Homosexual Behaviour

Desire to have sexual relations with someone of the same sex; varies by culture.

Vision Quest

A spiritual journey undertaken to reveal one's true identity, often including experiences that challenge biological definitions of gender.

Berdache

A term used by Europeans for Native American men taking on female roles; often linked to the spiritual identity revealed in a Vision Quest.

Rules of Sexual Access

Marriage recognized by society that provides a continuing claim to sexual access, typically a conjugal bond between biological male and female.

Incest Taboo

Prohibition of sexual relations between close relatives, explained as a means to maintain social peace and cooperation.

Endogamy

Marriage within a specific social group.

Exogamy

Marriage outside a specific social group.

Monogamy

A marriage system where one individual has one partner.

Polygamy

A marriage system in which one person has multiple spouses; includes polygyny and polyandry.

Levirate

A practice where a widow marries her deceased husband's brother, providing social security.

Sororate

A practice where a widower marries his deceased wife's sister, preserving family ties.

Choice of Spouse

In many cultures, marriage decisions are influenced by family economic and political advantages.

Honour Killing

A cultural practice where family members may resort to murder to restore honor after a perceived failure in an arranged marriage.

Bride-price

A payment made by the groom's family to the bride's family for the loss of her services.

Dowry

Property or money brought by a bride to her husband on their marriage.

Matrilateral Cross-Cousin Marriage

Marriage between a man and his mother's brother's daughter, or a woman and her mother's brother's son.

Patrilateral Cross-Cousin Marriage

Marriage between a man and his father's sister's daughter, or a woman and her father's sister's son.