Marriage and

Family

Unit Learning Objectives

Identify Leach’s argument for what marriage can, but does not always, accomplish.

Describe incest and exogamy. Differentiate between parallel and cross cousins, and how this

distinction relates to exogamy in groups with Unilineal descent patterns.

Identity endogamy and its role in socially stratified societies. Analyze how marriage functions as a form of group alliance and

identity the role of dowries and lobola. Identity types of plural marriages and the conditions that they

favor.

What is Marriage?

No definition is broad enough to apply (easily) to all societies and situations

Variation in who marriage unites

Besides the notion of ‘love’, what aspects of culture is marriage associated with?

What is Marriage?

Universal form or type of marriage does not exist

Primary functions are observed in all culture_______________________________

Evolved various systems to perform these functions

What is Marriage?Functions of Marriage

1. Marriage forms: _________________Provide for the material needs, social

support, and enculturation of children

_____________________

What is Marriage?Functions of Marriage 2. Marriage defines the _____________

___________________________________

Regulation of _____________________between the married couple and __________________

Allocation of _________________________

What is Marriage?Functions of Marriage

3. Marriage creates ___________________ Incest taboo

Establishment of trade relationships or political alliances

Marriage: Comparative Perspective

Exogamy 1. 2.

Incest: _________________________________________ How is ‘close relative’ defined? Is this

socially constructed?

Marriage: Comparative PerspectiveFocus: Cousins

Cross & Parallel CousinsCross: ______________

Opposite of______Parallel: ______________

Ego’s _____________

Sexual relations with ‘cousins’ influenced by unilineal descent

Example: ________________

Marriage: Comparative Perspective

Incest Avoidance Besides the biological component

Gene flow – exchange of genes between population boundaries, increases genetic diversity

What are the cultural factors?1.2.

‘Appreciating Anthropology’:‘Come Join My Band, Baby’

What are the cultural factors?1.2.

p258: “Recognition of _______________cooperation between neighboring bands.”

Marriage: Comparative Perspective

EndogamyRules requiring individuals to marry some

member of their own social group or category

_______________________________

Example: _________________________

Marriage: Comparative Perspective

Endogamy: Maintained in two main ways1. _______________________________

Affinal relationships kept within

Reinforcing ties within groups while decreasing interactions between the groups

Marriage: Comparative Perspective

Endogamy: Maintained in two main ways2. ______________________________

Symbolically expresses and strengthens the exclusiveness of group

Example: ___________________________

Marriage: Comparative Perspective

Marriage alliances :

Marriage establishes lasting social relationships and bondsBeyond the married couple:

______________________________________

Marriage: Comparative Perspective

1. Arranged marriages______________________________________

Importance of advantageous relationshipsRemember: Nanda’s article on an arranged

marriage in India

Marriage: Comparative Perspective 2. Levirate:

Usually a __________of deceased husbandRelations between the intermarried kin

groups are __________________

Marriage: Comparative Perspective 3. Sororate :

Her kin group is _______________________with another woman, for which no additional ________________________

Example - __________

Marriage Exchanges

Dowry :

Share of a woman’s inheritance that she takes into her marriage

Marriage Exchanges

Lobola:

Seen in patrilineal societies

Importance:

How Many Spouses?

Cultures vary on the number of spouses an individual is allowed to have at a time

Four possibilities Monogamy Polygyny Polyandry Group Marriage

Variations of polygamy (i.e. plural spouses)

Polygyny Form of marriage in which a man may

have more than one wife Benefits

1.2.

Polygyny

No single explanation for polygyny1.2.3.4.

Polyandry

Form of marriage in which a woman may have more than one husband

Documented in only about a dozen societies1.2.

Polyandry

Mostly observed in South Asia peoples1.2.

Required Reading: When Brothers Share a Wife