Sex, Marriage and Family Part II

Functions of Marriage Generally, marriage confers exclusive sexual access to a woman on her husband Generally, marriage confers exclusive sexual access to a woman on her husband Division of labor by gender leads to interdependence Division of labor by gender leads to interdependence Education of children Education of children

Marriage and Rights Edmund Leach argued that there are several different kinds of rights allocated by marriage Edmund Leach argued that there are several different kinds of rights allocated by marriage Marriage Rules Marriage Rules –Exogamy (marrying out) ("exo" = "exit; "gamy" = "marriage") prohibits people of same social group from marrying –Endogamy (marrying in) ("endo" = "in") marriage must take place within a group

Monogamy Monogamy is marriage in which both partners have just one spouse Monogamy is marriage in which both partners have just one spouse –Monogamy is the most common form of marriage, primarily for economic reasons. Serial Monogamy: a marriage form in which a man or women lives with a series of partners in succession Serial Monogamy: a marriage form in which a man or women lives with a series of partners in succession

Polygamy  Polygamy: one individual having multiple spouses at the same time (“poly” = “many”)  There are two forms of polygamy  Polygyny: marriage of a man to two or more women at the same time  Polyandry: marriage of a woman to two or more men at the same time

Polygyny  The most preferred form of marriage  Most common in cultures that support themselves by growing crops and where the bulk of the work is done by women  Polygyny is frequently found in societies where violence, including war, is common and where many young males lose their lives in fighting  Where men are the producers, polygyny is not common

Polygyny  Another reason for a man to take on secondary wives is to demonstrate his high position in society  Polygyny occurs in a few places within Western societies  Europe (legally)  US (illegally)

Polyandry  Polyandry is quite rare, fewer than a dozen societies are known to favor this form of marriage –Some reasons why it is practiced is that woman’s life expectancy is usually longer than a man’s –Female infant mortality is somewhat lower creating a surplus of women in a society –Economic security and property does not need to be divided

Question The two most common forms of marriage in the world today are The two most common forms of marriage in the world today are A.Polygyny and polyandry B.Polygyny and monogamy C.Polyandry and monogamy

Question The two most common forms of marriage in the world today are polygyny and monogamy. The two most common forms of marriage in the world today are polygyny and monogamy.

Other Forms of Marriage Group marriage: in which several men and women have sexual access to one another Group marriage: in which several men and women have sexual access to one another Fictive marriage: is marriage by proxy to the symbols of someone not physically present to establish the social status of a spouse and heirs Fictive marriage: is marriage by proxy to the symbols of someone not physically present to establish the social status of a spouse and heirs Arranged marriage: is arranged by someone other than the persons getting married Arranged marriage: is arranged by someone other than the persons getting married

Cousin Marriage In some societies, certain cousins are the preferred marriage partners in others. In some societies, certain cousins are the preferred marriage partners in others. Cross-cousin: children of a mother’s brother or a father’s sister Cross-cousin: children of a mother’s brother or a father’s sister Parallel cousin: is the child of a father’s brother or a mother’s sister. Parallel cousin: is the child of a father’s brother or a mother’s sister.

Same-sex Marriage Marriages between individuals of the same sex may provide a way of dealing with problems for which opposite-sex marriage offers no satisfactory solution Marriages between individuals of the same sex may provide a way of dealing with problems for which opposite-sex marriage offers no satisfactory solution –Same-sex marriages are formed in some societies in order to resolve specific concerns regarding property and labor

Arguments Against Same Sex Marriage Marriage has always been between males and females. Marriage has always been between males and females. –Same-sex marriages have been documented for a number of societies in Africa but in other parts of the world as well. Same-sex unions legitimize gays and lesbians, whose sexual orientations have been widely regarded as unnatural. Same-sex unions legitimize gays and lesbians, whose sexual orientations have been widely regarded as unnatural. –Neither cross-cultural studies nor studies of other animal species suggest that homosexual behavior is unnatural.

Arguments Against Same Sex Marriage The function of marriage is to produce children. The function of marriage is to produce children. –Marriage involves economic, political, and legal considerations. –It is increasingly common for same-sex partners to have children through adoption or reproductive technologies.

Marriage Exchanges In many societies marriages are accompanied by economic exchanges which include bride price, bride service and dowry In many societies marriages are accompanied by economic exchanges which include bride price, bride service and dowry Bride-price (wealth): payment of money from the groom’s to the bride’s kin Bride-price (wealth): payment of money from the groom’s to the bride’s kin –The most common form of marriage exchange – Is more common where women will work for the husband's family

Marriage Exchanges Bride service: the groom is expected to work for a period for the bride’s family Bride service: the groom is expected to work for a period for the bride’s family –Occurs mainly in foraging societies, where accumulating material goods for an exchange at marriage is difficult Dowry: payment of a woman’s inheritance at the time of marriage to her or her husband Dowry: payment of a woman’s inheritance at the time of marriage to her or her husband –Less common than other forms of exchange at marriage –Dowry is more common where most productive work is done by men

Question Bride __________ refers to the period of time a groom is expected to work for his bride's family. Bride __________ refers to the period of time a groom is expected to work for his bride's family. A.price B.service C.period D.exchange E.work

Answer: B Bride service refers to the period of time a groom is expected to work for his bride's family. Bride service refers to the period of time a groom is expected to work for his bride's family.

Divorce Marriages that are political alliances between groups are harder to break up than marriages that are more individual affairs. Marriages that are political alliances between groups are harder to break up than marriages that are more individual affairs. Divorce is more common in matrilineal societies, in patrilocal societies as the woman may be less inclined to leave her children who as members of their father’s lineage would need to stay with him. Divorce is more common in matrilineal societies, in patrilocal societies as the woman may be less inclined to leave her children who as members of their father’s lineage would need to stay with him.