Chapter 8: Kinship and Marriage

Objectives: Articulate the importance of kinship and marriage

in social organization Compare and contrast the various descent

systems Understand anthropological approaches to the

study of marriage Describe the variety of family systems present in

the Bible

Kinship

Definition

The ways in which people selectively interpret the common human experiences of reproduction and nurturance

Examples: Who can marry

whom? To whom do children

belong? Where should

husbands/wives/ children/others live?

Who is in my family?

Descent

A social rule assigning identity on the basis of ancestryTypes: Unilineal

patrilineal matrilineal dual

Cognatic bilateral ambilineal

Descent Systems

unilineal descent systems

cognatic descent systems

matrilineal descent

dual descent

patrilineal descent

ambilineal descent

bilateral descent

Unilineal Descent

Patrilineal

Descent traced through the male line typically marks distinction

of lines in kinship terminology

example of patrilineality: ancient Israel

not equated with patriarchy

Ancestor

Patrilineal Descent

Unilineal Descent

Matrilineal

Descent traced through the female line

not equated with matriarchy

authority may remain with male family member (e.g., mother’s brother)

inheritance, marital residence, other social expectations generally fall to women

Ancestor

Matrilineal Descent

Unilineal Descent

Dual Descent

Two lines of descent serve different purposes

least common system of unilineal descent

two lines of descent may govern various sorts of inheritance, alliance, and so on

Cognatic Descent

Bilateral Children seen as

related to both parents equally

Kinship terms may differentiate by generation, gender, and relative age, but do not tend to distinguish between mother’s and father’s kin

Ambilineal Individuals choose a

lineage upon reaching adulthood (e.g., marriage)

Children seen as equally related to both lineages, though one is eventually chosen as primary

EGO

Bilateral Kin

Bilateral Descent System

Functions of Descent Systems

Inheritance Example: Jacob and Esau and the rule of primogeniture

(Genesis 27:1–28:9) Distribution of territory

Example: Jacob’s twelve sons and the distribution of the clans (or segments) in the book of Joshua

Regulation of social conflict Land ownership Political representation Ritual observance

Example: Levites described in Num. 3–4 Cognatic systems generally serve fewer functions in

society than unilineal systems

Marriage

Definition:A publicly recognized

social or legal union that creates a socially sanctioned context for sexual intimacy, establishes (in whole or in part) the parentage of children, and creates kinship.

produces affinal kin through marriage

produces consanguinial kin through birth

universal existence of incest taboos (incest is defined differently in different societies)

Cousin Marriage

Cross or parallel cousin marriage may be the preferred form of marriage Keeps families together, including

inheritance and land Preexisting trust and knowledge makes

a good match easier

Cross Cousin Marriage

Parallel Cousin Marriage

Marriage and Economic Exchange

Bridewealth/service Involves exchange of goods

or services from family of groom to family of bride

Symbolizes loss of bride’s labor, companionship, and affection by natal family

Creates bonds of indebtedness between families

Example: Jacob’s brideservice for his marriages to Leah and Rachel

Dowry Exchange of goods from

bride’s family to groom’s family or to the bride as a gift to bring into the marriage

Reflects the ideal of the groom’s family taking on the financial responsibility to support the bride

Plural Marriage/Polygamy

Polygyny

Union of one man to two or more women in marriage

Provides for larger households, more labor, and larger lineages

Can serve to create multiple alliances

Polyandry

Union of one woman to two or more men in marriage

More rare Typically involves brothers

marrying one woman

Family in the Bible

Multiple family forms depicted in Scripture polygyny cousin marriage adoptive fictive kin

Emphasis on kinship behavior rather than on kinship systems and rules