Kinship Systems In a society where divorce is still a scandal and where, in fact, the divorce rate is exceedingly low, an arranged marriage is the beginning of a lifetime relationship not just between the bride and groom but between their families as well (Nanda, Annual Editions (2003/04: 115)

In all cultures Kinship Systems are linked to: Modes of production: subsistence, food Reproduction: Human reproduction) ideology

Depending on on the type of economy Kinship Systems: Shapes children grows and personality Influences a person’s marriage options Affects the status and how we take care of the aged

In small-scale pre-industrial societies Kinship Systems: foragers, horticulturalists Arranging marriages Maintaining social order Providing basic needs

Large-scale (industrial) societies Political groups Religious groups Friendship societies

Kinship Diagram # 1

Three major bases for forming kinship attachments Descent; tracing of kinship relations through your parent Sharing: through acts of sharing and support Marriage: through marriage and marriage- like unions

Kinship Systems organized by descent Relationship through parents Bilateral: both parents Unilinial: only one parent

Bilateral Descent Nuclear Strong bonds Neolocal Inheritance(equally divided) Conception theory (equal contribution) ambilineal

Unilineal Descent System Patrilineal and Matrilineal Most common Fixed economic resources Inheritance (one or the other Residence both (patrilocal or matrilocall)

Patrilineal and Matrilineal Descent Diagram

Patrilineal 44% (India, East Asia, Middle East,. Papua New Guinea) Traced though male Only male inherit Residence (patrilocal Kaliai of (Papua New Guinea)

Matrilineal 15% Mother’s group, Native American groups, Southeast Asia, Australia Matrilocality Inheritance from mother to daughter