Chapter 9: Marriage and the Family

Chapter 9: Marriage and the Family

Kinship Symbols

  • Start practicing a kinship chart to understand relationships within families and social networks.

Definition of Marriage

  • Marriage: A socially recognized sexual and economic union, typically between one man and one woman, wherein both parties hold reciprocal rights over children, work, and inheritance.

Discussion Question

  • Consider whether marriage based on romantic love is practiced universally around the globe.

Postpartum Sex Taboo

  • Definition: A cultural practice where a husband and wife abstain from any sexual activity for a certain period following the birth of a child.

    • Ju’hoansi Culture: Abstinence lasts for 2 years.

    • USA: Abstinence typically lasts for approximately 6 weeks.

  • Discussion: Analyze the reasons behind the differing practices between these two groups.

Restrictions on Marriage Partners

  • Exogamy: The practice of marrying outside of one’s own social or kinship group.

    • Example: The Lovings, a couple known for their interracial marriage, which challenged legal structures.

  • Endogamy: The practice of marrying within a specified social or kinship group.

    • Example: A Jewish wedding, which often emphasizes marrying within the Jewish community.

  • Arranged Marriage: Marriages where the selection of a spouse is directed by parties other than the bride and groom.

    • Examples:

    • Use of a matchmaker to select spouses.

    • A blind wedding where individuals meet for the first time on their wedding day.

Personal Question

  • Would you allow someone else to choose your marriage partner?

Preferential Cousin Marriage

  • Definition: A culturally preferred form of marriage between either parallel or cross cousins.

    • Cross Cousins: Children of one's mother's brother or father's sister.

    • Parallel Cousins: Children of one's mother's sister or father's brother.

Levirate and Sororate Practices

  • Levirate: The practice whereby a man marries the widow of his deceased brother to preserve family ties.

  • Sororate: The practice whereby a woman marries the husband of her deceased sister.

Number of Spouses: Cultural Economic Exchange

  • Bridewealth (Nuer Culture): Cattle or goods given by the bridegroom's family to the bride's family upon marriage.

  • Bride Service (Ju’hoansi Custom): Labor provided by the groom to the bride's family as the price for marriage (often involves hunting).

  • Dowry (Rural India): Transfer of goods or money from the bride's family to the groom or groom's family, often considered vital for the marriage arrangement.

  • Bride Burning/Dowry Death: A critical issue related to the dowry system where brides face violence and death due to dowry disputes.

  • Polyandry (Tibetan Culture): A marriage arrangement where a woman has multiple husbands, often brothers, to manage limited resources and ensure family stability.

  • Monogamy (Western Societies): The practice of having one spouse at a time, which is the most prevalent form of marriage in many parts of the world today.