Kinship and Descent

Kinship and descent are Cultural Universals. Genealogical Space – Space that contains all human beings.

Genealogical Space Descent Males Generation Females Marriage affinal consanguineal Males Females Generation consanguineal Marriage affinal

The investigation of kinship terminology begins with a distinction between kin types and kin terms. Kin types refer to the basic uncategorized relationships that anthropologist use to describe the actual contents of kinship categories. They are supposedly culture free, etic components. Kin terms are the labels for categories of kin that include one or more kin types. They are emic structures and vary across cultures.

Kin Types Primary components and letter symbols Mother [M] Father [F] Sister [Z] Brother [B] Daughter [D] Son [S] Husband [H] Wife [W]

Rules of Descent Bilineal (Bilateral) Unilineal Matrilineal Patrilineal

Bilineal Eskimo Kinship Similar to “American” system

Matrilineal

Patrilineal

Comparison of Patrilineal with Matrilineal Descent Patrilineal Matrilineal Strong marriage Brittle marriage Patrilocal residence Matrilocal residence Strict sex rules Lax sex rules No marriage rule X-cousin marriage Prescribed Proscribed

Rules of Residence Neolocal Matrilocal Patrilocal Ambilocal Associated with bilineal descent Matrilocal Associated with matrilineal descent Patrilocal Associated with patrilineal descent Ambilocal Associated with bilineal descent

Endogamy - Marriage within group Exogamy - Marriage outside group Forms of Marriage Rules of Marriage Monogamy Endogamy - Marriage within group One spouse Polygamy Exogamy - Marriage outside group Multiple spouses Polygyny Multiple wives Polyandry Multiple husbands

Family relatives Four functions of families Extended families Nuclear families Four functions of families Nurturance Sex control Economic foundation Enculturation