Culture as an agent of socialization: Kinship Systems

Patterns of descent in Cultures Matrilineal: This is a kinship system in which people trace their ancestry through their mothers. Patrilineal: This is a kinship system in which people trace their ancestry through their fathers. Bilineal: This is a kinship stem in which people trace their ancestry through their mothers and fathers.

True or false? Most Canadians trace their ancestry in a patrilineal way.

Answer: False Most Canadians trace their ancestry through both their mothers and fathers.

A Lineage vs A clan Lineage: All the male relatives in a family that can be traced back to one common direct ancestor. Clan: A group of several lineages in a patrilineal or matrilineal society in which people are related but cannot always trace exact relationships.

True or False? Almost all cultures of the world have the cultural institution of marriage.

Answer: True

Three major functions of marriage: Marriage defines social relationships to provide for the survival of and socialization of children. Marriage defines the rights and obligations of the two people to each other in terms of sex, reproduction, work, and social roles. Marriage creates new relationships between families and kin groups.

The History of Marriage https://ed.ted.com/lessons/the-history-of-marriage-alex-gendler

Forms of marriage Monogamy: A relationship or form of marriage where an individual has one partner. Polygamy: A form of marriage that involves multiple partners. Polygyny: A form of marriage between one husband and multiple wives. Polyandry: A form of marriage with one wife and multiple husbands. Arranged marriage: They are marriages set up by someone other than the people getting married.

True or false? Arranged marriages have a 5 to 7 percent divorce rate in Canada and the U.S.

Answer: True

Think-Pair-Share: List some ways that you think marriage has changed over the years. Work with your elbow partner(s).

Marriage trends Husbands are not the only breadwinners. It is not as difficult to attain a divorce in our society. More couples are choosing not to get married. More couples are having children outside of marriage. Common-law relationships are more common and acceptable. More same-sex couples are getting married. Interfaith and interracial marriages are more common. Fewer couples are choosing to have children. There has been an increase in the number of married couples that originally met online.

Source Social Sciences: An Introduction. Canada: McGraw-Hill Ryerson, 2011, p. 124-127.