Marriage and Societal Relationships

Homosexual Behaviour

Homosexual behaviour is prevalent on a global scale; however, its definition is culturally dependent. In Western cultures, homosexuality is characterized as the inclination to engage in sexual activities with individuals of the same sex. Conversely, among the Navaho tribe, interpretations of homosexuality are influenced more by gender roles than by biological sex differentiation.

Vision Quest

A Vision Quest involves an individual embarking on a significant journey, often ascending to high altitudes and enduring prolonged periods without food or water. This process may induce hallucinations leading to the revelation of one's true spirit. Frequently, this true identity contradicts their biological attributes. Historically, Europeans referred to this practice as "Berdache," specifically pertaining to native men adopting female roles within their society.

Cultural Variability of Homosexual Behaviour

In numerous cultures, homosexuality is regarded as a natural and anticipated manifestation of human behavior. Various alternative genders, commonly referred to as transgenders, have been historically recognized across diverse societies.

Key Definitions for Context

  • Sex = Biology

  • Gender = Roles

Rules of Sexual Access: Marriage

Marriage constitutes a socially recognized relationship granting ongoing sexual access between parties. It is a universal concept characterized by a conjugal bond traditionally understood as a union between a biological male and female. Marriages also establish connections with affinal kin, who are individuals acquired through marriage (in-laws).

The Incest Taboo

The incest taboo mandates the prohibition of sexual relations between specific individuals, with various explanations provided for its existence:

  • Psychoanalytical Explanation

  • Genetic Explanation

  • Social Explanation

  • Co-operation Explanation: The co-operation explanation is deemed the most persuasive; it argues that in order for groups to thrive, they must collaborate and expand their networks through inter-group marriages. Marrying within one's family would hinder social alliance expansion, ultimately providing no survival advantages.

Legal Context of Incest

In Canada, individuals may legally marry starting with their first cousin, while in many U.S. states, this threshold is set from the second cousin and upwards.

The Oedipus Complex

The Oedipus Complex, a concept promulgated by Sigmund Freud, posits that, were it not for the incest taboo, suppressed feelings of sexual attraction between men and their mothers, and women and their fathers, would ultimately disrupt familial structures.

Endogamy & Exogamy

  • Endogamy: Refers to the practice of marrying within a specific group.

  • Exogamy: Involves marrying outside of a specific group.

Forms of Marriage

Different forms of marriage can be observed across cultures:

  • Monogamy: A one-to-one marriage system.

  • Serial Monogamy: A sequence of monogamous relationships.

  • Polygamy: The practice of having multiple spouses.

    • Polygyny: A form of polygamy where one man has multiple wives.

    • Polyandry: A form of polygamy where one woman has multiple husbands.

    • Group marriage: A union involving multiple partners collectively recognized as spouses.

The Levirate & the Sororate

Levirate

  • The practice wherein a widow marries the brother of her deceased husband.

  • This tradition ensures social security for the widow and maintains previously established familial relationships.

Sororate

  • Involves a widower marrying the sister of his deceased wife.

  • Similar to the Levirate, it serves to preserve established relationships.

Choice of Spouse

Marriage holds profound significance, often necessitating decisions that extend beyond the autonomy of youth individuals. The choice of a spouse involves crucial transfers of rights between families. Often, marriages are pursued for the economic and political advancement of the family unit.

Honour Killing

The concept of honour killing refers to acts of violence against individuals (often within arranged marriages) whose actions allegedly dishonour their families. The family may resort to extreme measures, including murder, to restore honor and combat societal shame. This phenomenon is rooted in cultural practices rather than religious beliefs and tends to manifest in lower socioeconomic conditions.

Marriage Exchanges

Marriages may also include formal economic exchanges to ratify the union:

  • Bride-price or Bride wealth: Monetary compensation offered by the groom's family to the bride's family for the perceived loss of the daughter’s contributions.

    • If the groom is abusive, the bride may return to her family, retaining the received wealth.

  • Bride service: Rather than a monetary exchange, the groom might work for the bride’s family, a form of indentured service until deemed satisfactory for marriage.

  • Dowry: Financial resources provided to the groom by the bride's family.

Cousin Marriage

Cousin marriages can be categorized into different types:

  • Matrilateral cross-cousin marriage: A union occurring between a man and his mother's brother's daughter, or between a woman and her mother's brother's son.

  • Patrilateral cross-cousin marriage: A union between a man and his father's sister's daughter or between a woman and her father's sister's son.