marriage and the family
DESCRIPTION
Marriage Definitions, Types and Functions; Family Types.TRANSCRIPT
Kinship II: Marriage and Kinship II: Marriage and the Family the Family
Cultural AnthropologyCultural Anthropology
Defining Marriage: General Defining Marriage: General IssuesIssues
Defining marriage: A daunting taskDefining marriage: A daunting taskNayar: The stretch of Nayar: The stretch of sambandhamsambandhamN. America: Extensive ceremonyN. America: Extensive ceremonyCommon elementsCommon elementsLegal or customary sanctionsLegal or customary sanctionsEconomic dimensionsEconomic dimensionsSocial recognitionSocial recognitionHaviland: mating is biological; marriage is Haviland: mating is biological; marriage is
culturalcultural
Defining Marriage: Defining Marriage: Notes Notes and Queries Definitionand Queries Definition
Named after a Royal Anthropological Named after a Royal Anthropological Institute newsletterInstitute newsletter
The definitionThe definitionA union between a man and a A union between a man and a
womanwomansuch that children born to the womansuch that children born to the womanare recognized legitimate offspring of are recognized legitimate offspring of
both parentsboth parents
Operative Term: Legitimate Operative Term: Legitimate OffspringOffspring
LegitimacyLegitimacy Children born of male-female unionsChildren born of male-female unions that are culturally approvedthat are culturally approved are allowed full membership in their cultureare allowed full membership in their culture have a right to inherithave a right to inherit have other rights pertaining to their birthhave other rights pertaining to their birth and to their status in societyand to their status in society Children of nonlegitimate unions have no Children of nonlegitimate unions have no
such membership or rightssuch membership or rights
Polygyny and Concubinage: Polygyny and Concubinage: Rights of OffspringRights of Offspring
PolygynyPolygyny Marriage of one man to many womenMarriage of one man to many women Marriages are “legally” recognizedMarriages are “legally” recognized Children of all unions (upper left in Children of all unions (upper left in
Nigeria) have birthrightsNigeria) have birthrights Concubinage/ConcubinesConcubinage/Concubines A union in Imperial China that did not A union in Imperial China that did not
involve full rightsinvolve full rights Offspring did not inherit or obtain full Offspring did not inherit or obtain full
rights of their imperial or noble fathersrights of their imperial or noble fathers Yet, concubine Wu Zetian (left) overthrew Yet, concubine Wu Zetian (left) overthrew
the empress and became one herselfthe empress and became one herself
Nayar: An IntroductionNayar: An Introduction
Nayar of Malabar Coast, SW Nayar of Malabar Coast, SW IndiaIndia
Comprised the warrior caste in Comprised the warrior caste in IndiaIndia
Organized into matrilineages Organized into matrilineages called called taravadtaravad
Women lived with their brothers: Women lived with their brothers: consanguine familiesconsanguine families
Brother and sister did not mateBrother and sister did not mate Each taravad was linked Each taravad was linked
ceremonially with other taravadsceremonially with other taravads
Nayar Sambandham: Tali Nayar Sambandham: Tali CeremonyCeremony
Tali CeremonyTali Ceremony Initiation of prepubescent girls into Initiation of prepubescent girls into
womanhoodwomanhood Girls “married” to boys from other Girls “married” to boys from other
taravads (left: a taravad residence)taravads (left: a taravad residence) After ceremony, each boy put a After ceremony, each boy put a talitali
or gold chain around each girl’s or gold chain around each girl’s neckneck
Each couple were secluded for a few Each couple were secluded for a few daysdays
Afterward took bath for purificationAfterward took bath for purification No obligation except period of No obligation except period of
woman’s mourning on death of woman’s mourning on death of “husband“husband””
Sambandham: A DescriptionSambandham: A Description
A right to entertain men at nightA right to entertain men at night After dinner and before breakfastAfter dinner and before breakfast A formal relationshipA formal relationship Gifts expected from man 3 Gifts expected from man 3
times/yeartimes/year Involved sexual intercourseInvolved sexual intercourse No other obligations were involvedNo other obligations were involved Up to 12 liaisons might be ongoing Up to 12 liaisons might be ongoing
(not during the same night, of (not during the same night, of course)course)
Sambandham: Relationship Sambandham: Relationship and Child Legitimacyand Child Legitimacy
Three restrictionsThree restrictionsMen had to be outside woman’s taravad Men had to be outside woman’s taravad Men had to be Hindus: no Muslims or Men had to be Hindus: no Muslims or
Christians allowedChristians allowedMen had to be of warrior or Brahmin casteMen had to be of warrior or Brahmin casteLegitimationLegitimationUpon childbirth one man paid for delivery Upon childbirth one man paid for delivery
costs, thereby recognizing legitimacycosts, thereby recognizing legitimacy If no man did so, illegitimacy suspectedIf no man did so, illegitimacy suspected
The Nayar Household: The Nayar Household: Consanguineal FamilyConsanguineal Family
Child was reared by the mother and Child was reared by the mother and mother’s brothermother’s brother
Two concepts of fatherTwo concepts of father Genitor: Genitor: The biological father--the The biological father--the
visitorsvisitors Pater:Pater: The social father The social father Woman’s brotherWoman’s brother Child’s mother’s brother.Child’s mother’s brother.
Redefining MarriageRedefining Marriage
Other examples:Other examples: Nuer: Woman marriageNuer: Woman marriage Kwakiutl: Man marriageKwakiutl: Man marriage Haviland’s definitionHaviland’s definition Relationship between one or more men Relationship between one or more men
(male or female)(male or female) With one or more women (male or female)With one or more women (male or female) Recognized by society as having claimRecognized by society as having claim to right of sexual access to one anotherto right of sexual access to one another
Functions of Marriage/Nuclear Functions of Marriage/Nuclear FamilyFamily
George Peter Murdock’s George Peter Murdock’s Social Structure Social Structure argues:argues:
Nuclear families (upper Nuclear families (upper left) embedded in: left) embedded in:
Extended families (lower Extended families (lower left)left)
Polygynous familiesPolygynous families There are universal There are universal
functionsfunctions Sexual gratificationSexual gratification Gender division of laborGender division of labor ReproductionReproduction EnculturationEnculturation
Sexual GratificationSexual Gratification
Sexual behavior allowed through Sexual behavior allowed through a legitimate channel--marriagea legitimate channel--marriage
Diminishes sexual competitionDiminishes sexual competitionLessens disruption through Lessens disruption through
jealousyjealousyProblems with explanationProblems with explanationSexual behavior occurs outside Sexual behavior occurs outside
wedlockwedlock
Gender Division of LaborGender Division of Labor
Gender-assigned tasksGender-assigned tasks Relieve spouse of a block Relieve spouse of a block
of tasksof tasks Assigned according to Assigned according to Strength (of male) for Strength (of male) for
heavier and dangerous jobsheavier and dangerous jobs Domestic tasks (women) Domestic tasks (women)
including child careincluding child care Erigbaatgsa woman Erigbaatgsa woman
planting garden is one planting garden is one exampleexample
Drawbacks of explanationDrawbacks of explanation
Women often active outside Women often active outside homehome
Long-distance tradeLong-distance trade Women do perform strenuous Women do perform strenuous
tasks (left: Yanomamo tasks (left: Yanomamo women bringing in loads)women bringing in loads)
And perform dangerous tasks And perform dangerous tasks (e.g. Atga woman hunting)(e.g. Atga woman hunting)
Navajo women were first Navajo women were first sheep herderssheep herders
ReproductionReproduction
Both sexes required for reproductionBoth sexes required for reproductionAssumption: genitor and pater roles Assumption: genitor and pater roles
exercised by same manexercised by same manExceptionsExceptionsNayar separation of genitor from Nayar separation of genitor from
paterpaterMother’s brother performs pater role Mother’s brother performs pater role
in many matrilineal societiesin many matrilineal societies
Nurturance and EnculturationNurturance and Enculturation
Family has primary role of child rearingFamily has primary role of child rearingUsually mother provides nurturanceUsually mother provides nurturanceRobin Fox: Primary bond is mother-childRobin Fox: Primary bond is mother-childBeyond this, enculturation may occur Beyond this, enculturation may occur
within other institutionswithin other institutionsEast Africa: Age set/age grade system East Africa: Age set/age grade system New Guinea: Men’s housesNew Guinea: Men’s housesTrobriand Islands: Mother’s brotherTrobriand Islands: Mother’s brotherConsanguineal families Consanguineal families
Types of MarriageTypes of Marriage
MonogamyMonogamy: One man, one woman: One man, one woman Serial monogamy:Serial monogamy: multiple partners in multiple partners in
lifetime but never at the same timelifetime but never at the same time Polygamy:Polygamy: Multiple marriage Multiple marriage Polygyny: Polygyny: One man, two or more womenOne man, two or more women Polyandry: Polyandry: One woman, two or more menOne woman, two or more men Group Marriage (Polygynandry): Group Marriage (Polygynandry): More More
than one man, more than one womenthan one man, more than one women The last is rare and transitoryThe last is rare and transitory
Polygyny Polygyny
Found among societies with Found among societies with intensive female labor: intensive female labor: horticulturists, pastoralists (top)horticulturists, pastoralists (top)
Extra hands are always welcomeExtra hands are always welcome Often found with wealth Often found with wealth
generationgeneration Often a potential source of Often a potential source of
divisiondivision ““Fault lines” between sons of Fault lines” between sons of
different co-wives (bottom)different co-wives (bottom) Large herds reduced by such Large herds reduced by such
divisiondivision
Sororal Polygyny: A Mitigating Sororal Polygyny: A Mitigating FactorFactor
Defining Defining sororal polygynysororal polygynyMarriage involving sistersMarriage involving sistersFrom family of orientationFrom family of orientationSibling familiarity breeds (some) Sibling familiarity breeds (some)
harmonyharmonyTension minimal compared to Tension minimal compared to
nonsistersnonsisters
PolyandryPolyandry
Found in fewer than a dozen Found in fewer than a dozen societiessocieties
Tibet: Tibet: Fraternal polyandryFraternal polyandry is practiced is practiced Marriage of one women to two or Marriage of one women to two or
more men who are brothers to more men who are brothers to each othereach other
There is only one child bearerThere is only one child bearer In mountainous regions, arable In mountainous regions, arable
land is scarceland is scarce Helps maintain land as one parcelHelps maintain land as one parcel Controls population growthControls population growth
Same-Sex MarriageSame-Sex Marriage
Woman marriage (Nuer and Nandi)Woman marriage (Nuer and Nandi) Both societies are pastoralistsBoth societies are pastoralists Mothers with no sons has no one to inherit Mothers with no sons has no one to inherit
man’s propertyman’s property They “marry” a young woman They “marry” a young woman Second woman provides male heirs barren or Second woman provides male heirs barren or
sonless woman lackssonless woman lacks The first women becomes “female” The first women becomes “female”
husband/fatherhusband/father Actually enhances her status--as a “man”Actually enhances her status--as a “man”
Family and HouseholdFamily and Household
Family: Not all are residentialFamily: Not all are residentialHousehold definedHousehold definedBasic residential unitBasic residential unit in which production, consumption, child in which production, consumption, child
rearing, and inheritancerearing, and inheritanceare organized and implementedare organized and implementedVariationsVariationsMay form subunits of extended familyMay form subunits of extended familyMay be nonfamily: New Guinean men’s housesMay be nonfamily: New Guinean men’s housesOr spouses may form separate unitsOr spouses may form separate units
Nuclear FamilyNuclear Family
Couple may form own householdCouple may form own householdNeolocal Residence: Neolocal Residence: Couple forms an Couple forms an
entirely new householdentirely new householdNuclear Family: Nuclear Family: Family comprising one Family comprising one
husband, one wife, and their childrenhusband, one wife, and their childrenNuclear families usually found whereNuclear families usually found where Industrial societies as in U.S. and CanadaIndustrial societies as in U.S. and CanadaHarsh environments such as the Arctic Harsh environments such as the Arctic
among Inuit or desert among !Kungamong Inuit or desert among !Kung
Extended FamiliesExtended Families
Textbook definitionTextbook definitionA collection of nuclear familiesA collection of nuclear familiesUnited consanguineallyUnited consanguineallyLiving in one householdLiving in one householdA common definition:A common definition:A family of three or more generationsA family of three or more generationsof married kin.of married kin.Extended family householdExtended family household refers to refers to
such families sharing a residence such families sharing a residence
Patrilocal ResidencePatrilocal Residence
Couple moves in with groom’s Couple moves in with groom’s parents/kinparents/kin
Sometimes called Sometimes called virilocal virilocal residenceresidence
Patrilocal Extended Family:Patrilocal Extended Family: Comprises all consanguineal Comprises all consanguineal
malesmales All unmarried femalesAll unmarried females All females married into familyAll females married into family Occurs where male Occurs where male
cooperation important in cooperation important in subsistence or war subsistence or war
Matrilocal ResidenceMatrilocal Residence Couple moves in with bride’s Couple moves in with bride’s
parents/kinparents/kin Sometimes called Sometimes called uxorilocal uxorilocal
residenceresidence Matrilocal Extended Family:Matrilocal Extended Family: Comprises all consanguineal Comprises all consanguineal
femalesfemales All unmarried malesAll unmarried males All males married into familyAll males married into family Found where female Found where female
cooperation important incooperation important in Subsistence or land ownershipSubsistence or land ownership
Avunculocal ResidenceAvunculocal Residence
Occurs only with Occurs only with matrilineal descentmatrilineal descent
Household FormationHousehold Formation Boy moves in with Boy moves in with
mother’s brother at age mother’s brother at age 5-65-6
Reared by mother’s Reared by mother’s brotherbrother
On marriage, wife move On marriage, wife move inin
Their boys move in with Their boys move in with wife’s brotherwife’s brother
Avunculocal Residence: A Likely Avunculocal Residence: A Likely explanationexplanation
Formerly relied on female Formerly relied on female cooperationcooperation
Male property becomes valuableMale property becomes valuableVariation: chiefly class in TrobriandsVariation: chiefly class in Trobriands
Ambilocal (Bilocal) ResidenceAmbilocal (Bilocal) Residence
Occurs with bilateral Occurs with bilateral descentdescent
Household Household formationformation::
Couple moves in Couple moves in eithereither with groom’s parents or with groom’s parents or wife’s parentswife’s parents
Occurs where resources Occurs where resources are limitedare limited
Choice depends on Choice depends on resource advantageresource advantage
Example: Gilbert Islanders Example: Gilbert Islanders OoOo and Bwotiand Bwoti
Oo: Oo: An overarching bilateral An overarching bilateral descent groupdescent group
BwotiBwoti: Community council : Community council seatseat
Membership is based on land Membership is based on land rights, potentially severalrights, potentially several
A man or woman can choose A man or woman can choose only one only one bwoti,bwoti,
Here, 8 individuals have Here, 8 individuals have chosen 6 chosen 6 bwotisbwotis::
Four in father’s group (2, Four in father’s group (2, 3,5,6) 3,5,6)
Four in mother’s group Four in mother’s group (1,4,7,8) (1,4,7,8)
Example: Gilbert Islanders Example: Gilbert Islanders KaingaKainga
Kainga:Kainga: Localized Localized landowning group landowning group based on marriagebased on marriage
If a couple decides to If a couple decides to move into man’s move into man’s group, woman retains group, woman retains rights to her rights to her kaingakainga
But she may not pass But she may not pass it down to her childrenit down to her children
Kainga Kainga is structurally is structurally similar to the similar to the bwotibwoti
Over time, Over time, ramagesramages or or ambilineal ambilineal descent groupsdescent groups form form
Matrifocal (Matricentric) Matrifocal (Matricentric) HouseholdHousehold
Today, single parent Today, single parent households are becoming households are becoming commoncommon
Matrifocal (MatricentricMatrifocal (Matricentric) ) households comprise a households comprise a woman and her childrenwoman and her children
Reasons: deindustrialization, Reasons: deindustrialization, divorce, inability of man to divorce, inability of man to support familysupport family
Patrifocal (patricentric) Patrifocal (patricentric) households are also households are also increasingincreasing
Successor Marriage: Levirate Successor Marriage: Levirate and Sororateand Sororate
Levirate:Levirate: Marriage Marriage in which widow in which widow marries the brother marries the brother of her deceased of her deceased husbandhusband
Sororate:Sororate: Marriage in which Marriage in which widower marries widower marries the sister of his the sister of his deceased wifedeceased wife
SummarySummary
Marriage has been defined in two waysMarriage has been defined in two waysOne stressing legitimacy of childrenOne stressing legitimacy of childrenOne stressing relationship of personsOne stressing relationship of persons
Household and Family have been definedHousehold and Family have been definedTypes of family definedTypes of family defined
Extended familyExtended familyExtended family by postmarital residence.Extended family by postmarital residence.
Next: what about larger kin-based Next: what about larger kin-based groups?groups?