UCI Egan 2A

Diversity in terms (categories of kin)

Mom, dad, aunt, uncle, brother, sister

Diversity in underlying logic of kinship ties

Mother is not = Madre is not = Chitnag

Enduring Diffuse Solidarity

special relationships with people

the people you turn to for help

Kin Terms

words in a certain language that people use to identify their categories of kin "mother"

Biological Kin Types

Description of actual genealogical relationships

F M S D B Z C H W

Nuclear Family

Immediate Family (Mom, Dad, Brothers, Sisters)

Extended Family

Expanded family

Bilateral Descent

Person inherits equally from both sides

Unilineal Descent

Descent is only phased through one side (Male or Female)

Patrilineage

Common identity through father

Matrilineage

Common identity through mother

Kindred

All the blood relatives of an individual (both sides)

Lineage

A unilineal descent group larger than an extended family whose members can actually trace how they are related

Clan

Group of people who believe themselves to be related to a common ancestor in a unilineal manner, but CANNOT demonstrate the links

Patriclan

A clan tracing descent through the male line

Matriclan

A clan tracing descent through the female line

Corporate Groups

Collectively holds, manages, controls resources such as land. Lineages are often corporate groups, not kindreds since they don't persist through time (ends with Ego's death)

Genitor

Biological Father

Pater

Performs the duties of a father

Functions of marriage - Descent

"who will inherit the throne"

Provides rights for children

Functions of marriage - Alliance

Marriage = new set of relatives

Affines

In-laws

Incest Taboo

Prohibition on sex (not marriage) between certain people who are related

Monogamy

Practice of being married to one spouse

Polygamy

Practice of being married to more than one spouse at a time

Polygyny

More than one WIFE at a time

Polyandry

More than one HUSBAND at a time

Himalayan Agriculturist and Polyandry

Limited availability of land and inheritance

land is corporate

brothers all marry one wife and collectively run land

Land Tenure

Inheritance of land

Primogeniture

Oldest son inherits everything

Sororate

Custom by which a widower married the sister of his deceased wife

Levirate

Custom by which a widow marries the brother of her deceased husband

Exogamy

Practice of marrying outside one's own group

Endogamy

Practice of marrying inside one's group

Caste System of India

-Brahmin

-Kshatriya

-Vaishya

-Shudra

-Untouchables

Patrilocal Residence

Newly-weds live with husband's people

Matrilocal Residence

Newly-weds live with wife's people

Neolocal Residence

Newly-weds find independent household elsewhere

Bridewealth

Payment from husband's people to bride's people

Dowry

Transfer from wife's people to husbands (giving wealth)

Bride Service

Husband lives with bride's people and works for them

Marriage Exchange

Wife gives to husband, husband gives to wife(s)

Matrilateral biological kin types

Any bio kin type starting with M

Patrilateral biological kin types

Any bio kin type starting with F

Parallel Cousin

Children of same sex siblings (Father's Brother)

Cross Cousin

Children of opposite sexed siblings (Father's sister)

Ascending Generation

Generations of ancestors above the ego (grandparents)

Descending Generation

Generations below the ego (grandchildren)

Ego's own Generation

Generation on the same line as Ego

Band

-Basic unit of social organization among foragers

-Fewer than 100 people

-Often splits up seasonally

Tribe

-Sociopolitical organization based on farming or herding

-no means of enforcing political decisions

Chiefdom

-Single entity under authority of a chief

-kin-based with differential access to resources and a permanent political structure

State

Independent, centrally organized political unit, a government

4th World Peoples

Peoples who have their own ethnic identity (Nuer, Native Americans)

Masai Age Grades

Stages in the life cycle

-Elder

-Warrior

-Youth

Masai Age sets

Cohort group of similarly aged individuals that pass through age grades together, as a group

Stratification

Dividing societies into ranked groups of collectivities of people

Differential access to prestige, power

Egalitarianism

A belief in the equality of all people

Ascribed Status

Inherited, like royalty

Achieved Status

Worked toward status

Role

Duties associated with a particular status

Status Set

All the statuses a person holds at a single time

Authority

Having a legitimate right to tell people what to do

Class

Position within overall division of labor

Mode of Production

The dominant way of making a living in a culture

Means of Production

Facilities and resources for producing goods

Headman

-Achieved status

-Personal attributes: reputation and having skills

Bigman

-Achieved status

-Personal attributes: ability to persuade people, influential

Moka in New Guinea Highlands

Competitive feasting and gifting

-Show superiority with gifts

-Big man organizes this

-Oversees alliances with other villages

Chief

-Ascribed status

-Influence is independent of personal attributes

-Authority invested in the office of the chief

-Authority over fellow kinsmen

Political Leaders in States

Diversity: can be either ascribed (UK) or achieved (US) groups

-Authority

-Territory

Authority and Mobilization of Labor