1. SOC1016A - Lecture 02 Family and Kinship

2. Last week: Social Anthropology explores the cultural dimension of social institutions. Its perspective is: Social Anthropology explores the cultural dimension of social institutions. Its perspective is: - Holistic - Comparative

3. In this lecture: Kinship is the most important social institution in many simple, stateless societies. In these settings, social organisation is often structured along kinship principles. Kinship is the most important social institution in many simple, stateless societies. In these settings, social organisation is often structured along kinship principles. Cultural dimension of kinship. In different societies one finds different ideas about how to classify somebody’s kin. There are not necessarily related to “blood ties”. Cultural dimension of kinship. In different societies one finds different ideas about how to classify somebody’s kin. There are not necessarily related to “blood ties”.

4. Kinship: basic terminology (1) Lateral relatives (aunts, uncles, and cousins) Lateral relatives (aunts, uncles, and cousins) Lineal relatives (through generations) Lineal relatives (through generations) Lineage = set of individuals who can indicate their common descent from a common ancestor Lineage = set of individuals who can indicate their common descent from a common ancestor Clan = set of individuals who assume a shared descent Clan = set of individuals who assume a shared descent

5. Kinship: basic terminology (2) ■ Transmission of kin: - patrilineal - matrilineal - double - cognate - parallel - crossing ■ Corporate kin group = new members are recruited through genealogical principles

6. Kin groups can form the basis for political stability. One can trust one’s relatives because there is a web of obligations/sanctions. Kin groups can form the basis for political stability. One can trust one’s relatives because there is a web of obligations/sanctions. Kinship is thus related to Kinship is thus related to - political stability - Inheritance, transmission of resources - Succession, transmission of rights, duties, status

7. Kinship: conventional signs

9. Case-study 1: the Trobriand Islanders Society based on matrilineal clans (“dala”). Society based on matrilineal clans (“dala”). But this does not mean that this is a matriarchal society. Each clan has a male chief, and men control political and economic activities (e.g. land rights) But this does not mean that this is a matriarchal society. Each clan has a male chief, and men control political and economic activities (e.g. land rights) Why then matrilineal clans? The answer is to be found in their beliefs about conception and women’s natural powers. Why then matrilineal clans? The answer is to be found in their beliefs about conception and women’s natural powers.

10. On the Trobrianders A. B. Weiner, The Trobrianders of Papua New Guinea, 1988 Film: The Trobriand Islanders of Papua New Guinea, 1952

11. Case-study 2: the Nuer of Sudan

12. The “Ghost Marriage” Genitor / Pater Genitor / Pater Genitrix / Mater Genitrix / Mater For the Nuer people, then: - Lineage does not depend on blood - Lineage does not depend on blood - Kinship ≠ genealogical connections - Kinship ≠ genealogical connections

13. On the Nuer E. E. Evans-Pritchard, Kinship and Marriage among the Nuer, 1951.

14. Conclusions Kinship is a social institution, which has to do with politics, economics, religion, cosmology, etc Kinship is a social institution, which has to do with politics, economics, religion, cosmology, etc Kinship systems do not merely follow from biological kin relations, but are socially constructed Kinship systems do not merely follow from biological kin relations, but are socially constructed

15. Why this is relevant to us: 1- Against Sociobiology 2- Current socio-political issues. Case-study on East London Case-study on East London ( M. Young, P. Wilmott, Family and Kinship in East London ) ( M. Young, P. Wilmott, Family and Kinship in East London ) 3- Current debates on new reproductive technologies