Introduction to Marriage, Introduction to Marriage, Family, and KinshipFamily, and Kinship

The Biological and Sociological The Biological and Sociological ConstantsConstants

Kinship: The Foundation of Most Kinship: The Foundation of Most Pre-Industrial SocietiesPre-Industrial Societies

From Australian Aborigines to West Africa, families and From Australian Aborigines to West Africa, families and their extensions form the core of preindustrial societies;their extensions form the core of preindustrial societies;

Inuit (Eskimo) are centered around nuclear families.Inuit (Eskimo) are centered around nuclear families. Ashanti, Yoruba, and other West African societies develop Ashanti, Yoruba, and other West African societies develop

complex social systems based on extended families and complex social systems based on extended families and groups derived from them.groups derived from them.

In the next several lectures, we will look at the functions In the next several lectures, we will look at the functions of sex, gender, marriage, families, and wider kin-based of sex, gender, marriage, families, and wider kin-based groups in social institutions around the world.groups in social institutions around the world.

What is Kinship?What is Kinship? This picture of three generations of Native This picture of three generations of Native

American females helps us define what kinship American females helps us define what kinship is about. Study of relations based on several is about. Study of relations based on several dimensions: dimensions:

First, it is about sex and gender; it takes sex to First, it is about sex and gender; it takes sex to reproduce and both sexes to rear childrenreproduce and both sexes to rear children

Second, it is about the family needed to nurture Second, it is about the family needed to nurture and teach this child the ways of its culture. and teach this child the ways of its culture.

Third, it is about rules of inheritance and Third, it is about rules of inheritance and succession, which in this society goes through succession, which in this society goes through the female line. the female line.

Fourth, it is about how larger groups are formed Fourth, it is about how larger groups are formed from the family and descent rules to carry out from the family and descent rules to carry out the other functions of societythe other functions of society. .

Why Kinship?Why Kinship? The family and its extension is the world’s first The family and its extension is the world’s first

organization.organization. Kinship Forms basis of:Kinship Forms basis of: Property rights: who shall have the right to own Property rights: who shall have the right to own

property?property? Division of labor starts with how women and Division of labor starts with how women and

men are culturally assigned their tasks. men are culturally assigned their tasks. Economic units start with the family.Economic units start with the family. Political organizations and rules of social control Political organizations and rules of social control

are founded on kinship recognition in most are founded on kinship recognition in most societiessocieties

Even supernatural relations rest on kinship—Even supernatural relations rest on kinship—ancestor worship reflects this.ancestor worship reflects this.

The Constants of KinshipThe Constants of Kinship Kinship addresses the limits set by biology and universals Kinship addresses the limits set by biology and universals

of culture related to these limits.of culture related to these limits. These are known as constants, or human traits that you These are known as constants, or human traits that you

will find in most cultures, if not all.will find in most cultures, if not all. Some constants are biological, what we are born with Some constants are biological, what we are born with

everywhere; others are sociological, the product of culture everywhere; others are sociological, the product of culture and its rules of human conduct. and its rules of human conduct.

Biological factors are absolute: Human are of two sexes, Biological factors are absolute: Human are of two sexes, without which they and their societies could not exist. without which they and their societies could not exist.

Sociological factors are statistical: their occurrence may Sociological factors are statistical: their occurrence may involve the majority of societies, but not all.involve the majority of societies, but not all.

All of these factors are variables that kinship addresses.All of these factors are variables that kinship addresses.

Constants of Kinship: BiologicalConstants of Kinship: Biological Sex Constitute the First Two Sex Constitute the First Two

Constants.Constants. Men impregnate the women with their Men impregnate the women with their

sperm, fertilizing the egg.sperm, fertilizing the egg. Women bear the children; no man can do Women bear the children; no man can do

so.so. Copulation implies cooperation between Copulation implies cooperation between

two persons, and by extension implies two persons, and by extension implies cooperation between two groups—the cooperation between two groups—the families of the man and woman at a families of the man and woman at a minimum.minimum.

Sometimes it implies cooperation between Sometimes it implies cooperation between groups larger than the family, groups larger than the family,

Constants of Kinship: Nurturance Constants of Kinship: Nurturance and Enculturation. and Enculturation.

The third biological constant of kinship is the The third biological constant of kinship is the long period of child dependence, which occurs long period of child dependence, which occurs in two phasesin two phases

From birth to about three years or four, the From birth to about three years or four, the child is nurtured by (as depicted by this statue child is nurtured by (as depicted by this statue of Yashoda and baby Krishna, a Hindu deity, of Yashoda and baby Krishna, a Hindu deity, in India)in India)

After that period, the child is enculturated, or After that period, the child is enculturated, or taught in the ways of the culture, by both taught in the ways of the culture, by both parentsparents

Usually, the parent trains the child of the Usually, the parent trains the child of the same sex as himself or herself.same sex as himself or herself.

Here, a !Kung father teaches his son how to Here, a !Kung father teaches his son how to use a bow and arrow.use a bow and arrow.

Constants of Kinship: Death—Or Constants of Kinship: Death—Or You Can’t Take It With YouYou Can’t Take It With You

Death is the fourth biological constant of Death is the fourth biological constant of kinship.kinship.

Because even the miser, depicted in Because even the miser, depicted in this painting by Hieronymus Bosch, can’t this painting by Hieronymus Bosch, can’t take his moneybags with him, a decision take his moneybags with him, a decision has to be made about inheritance:has to be made about inheritance:

Cultures vary: Is the property to go to Cultures vary: Is the property to go to the eldest son? The sister’s eldest son? the eldest son? The sister’s eldest son? Or all male children or all children, male Or all male children or all children, male for female? Property to eldest son?for female? Property to eldest son?

Decisions of succession also comes into Decisions of succession also comes into play. Who inherits the kingship, play. Who inherits the kingship, assuming the society is a state? How assuming the society is a state? How about the role of household head?about the role of household head?

Sociological Constants of KinshipSociological Constants of Kinship

Biological constants are determined biologically and is Biological constants are determined biologically and is determinative:determinative:

We come in two sexes (though of theoretical interest, We come in two sexes (though of theoretical interest, exceptions are too rare to play any significant role in most exceptions are too rare to play any significant role in most kinship issues) kinship issues)

We all have long periods of dependence and eventually We all have long periods of dependence and eventually we die.we die.

Sociological constants are subject to variability and so are Sociological constants are subject to variability and so are more statistical issues.more statistical issues.

The The incest tabuincest tabu is nearly universal, yet there are is nearly universal, yet there are significant exceptionssignificant exceptions

Male dominanceMale dominance is widespread, but there are numerous is widespread, but there are numerous exceptions, as well. exceptions, as well.

Constants of Kinship: Incest Constants of Kinship: Incest Tabu ITabu I

The incest tabu is universal, especially The incest tabu is universal, especially between primary kin (Father-daugher, between primary kin (Father-daugher, mother-son, and sister-brother)mother-son, and sister-brother)

That primary kin may not mate with each That primary kin may not mate with each other is a widespread rule.other is a widespread rule.

The story of Lot and his two daughters in The story of Lot and his two daughters in the Book of Genesis is one case of incest the Book of Genesis is one case of incest

After the destruction of Sodom and After the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, the daughters believed they Gomorrah, the daughters believed they were the only humans left.were the only humans left.

Thus, they plied their father with wine and Thus, they plied their father with wine and copulated with him and so founded two copulated with him and so founded two tribes, the Moabites and the Ammonitestribes, the Moabites and the Ammonites

Constants of Kinship: Incest Tabu IIConstants of Kinship: Incest Tabu II

In contrast with the legend of Lot and his In contrast with the legend of Lot and his daughters, there are three daughters, there are three ethnographically documented exceptions.ethnographically documented exceptions.

Brother and sister marriage was Brother and sister marriage was mandated within the royal lineage of the mandated within the royal lineage of the Egyptians of the pharaohs (depicted), Egyptians of the pharaohs (depicted), Hawaiian, and Inca. : Brother sister Hawaiian, and Inca. : Brother sister marriage of royal lineagemarriage of royal lineage

Tylor suggest one reason for such a Tylor suggest one reason for such a widespread tabu: Tribes have the option widespread tabu: Tribes have the option “to marry out or die out”“to marry out or die out”

In any case, marriage outside the family In any case, marriage outside the family or other kin group is a universal or other kin group is a universal obligation.obligation.

Constants of Kinship: Male Constants of Kinship: Male DominanceDominance The second sociological constant, male The second sociological constant, male

dominance, is widespread.dominance, is widespread. Males exercise authority over households Males exercise authority over households

and wider groups in most cultures.and wider groups in most cultures. This group of Masai men to the upper left is This group of Masai men to the upper left is

a classic example; they own cattle, engage a classic example; they own cattle, engage in warfare principally over cattle, and so in warfare principally over cattle, and so male cooperation and dominance is male cooperation and dominance is commonplace. commonplace.

On the other hand, Iroquois women On the other hand, Iroquois women controlled the land they cultivated, they controlled the land they cultivated, they owned the longhouses, and voted for the owned the longhouses, and voted for the council, though they did not sit on the council, though they did not sit on the council or serve as chiefscouncil or serve as chiefs

Constants of Kinship: ConstantsConstants of Kinship: Constants

The constants of kinship are biological and social facts of The constants of kinship are biological and social facts of life around which rules of descent have to address.life around which rules of descent have to address.

The reproductive role of the two sexes occurs cross-The reproductive role of the two sexes occurs cross-culturallyculturally

So does the long period of child dependenceSo does the long period of child dependence Death also is inevitable, though taxes may not be so in Death also is inevitable, though taxes may not be so in

societies outside the state.societies outside the state. The incest tabu is universal or nearly so; why it is has The incest tabu is universal or nearly so; why it is has

generated explanations but they all have shortcomings in generated explanations but they all have shortcomings in one way or anther, a topic we take up later.one way or anther, a topic we take up later.

Male dominance is widespread, but there are many Male dominance is widespread, but there are many societies in which women have strong influence.societies in which women have strong influence.

Overview of Topics IOverview of Topics I

In the modules that follow, we begin with the primary In the modules that follow, we begin with the primary principles of descent: bilateral and unilineal.principles of descent: bilateral and unilineal.

Descent governs all aspects of marriage, family, and Descent governs all aspects of marriage, family, and kinship and so we start with that topic first.kinship and so we start with that topic first.

Sex and gender relations are then taken up, including Sex and gender relations are then taken up, including sexual behavior (especially incest) and gender, the sexual behavior (especially incest) and gender, the cultural derivative of the differences between the sexes. cultural derivative of the differences between the sexes.

We then look at marriage, definition of the term We then look at marriage, definition of the term (including the well known practice of sambandham in (including the well known practice of sambandham in southwest India), its functions, and its types. southwest India), its functions, and its types.

Overview of Topics IIOverview of Topics II Next, we look at family structures and their households. Next, we look at family structures and their households. We also look at multiple marriages (polygynous and We also look at multiple marriages (polygynous and

polyandrous) and how they structure the family and polyandrous) and how they structure the family and household. household.

We then focus on nuclear and extended families and connect We then focus on nuclear and extended families and connect them to rules of postmarital residence.them to rules of postmarital residence.

Next discussed are descent-based groups, such as lineages, Next discussed are descent-based groups, such as lineages, clans, and ambilineal descent groups clans, and ambilineal descent groups

Finally, we return to marriage and see how the alliances Finally, we return to marriage and see how the alliances created by them affect relations among different kin groups created by them affect relations among different kin groups and societies.and societies.

In the rest of the course, we look at ways kinship impinges on In the rest of the course, we look at ways kinship impinges on economies, political entities, and even religion. economies, political entities, and even religion.