1. MARRIAGE Chapter 20

2. Marriage Different to each society 1951 – a union between a man and a woman such that children born are recognized as legitimate offspring of both partners Why this doesn’t work Pleural marriages Same-sex marriages Common-law partnerships Paternity and Marriage Social and biological fathers Genitor – a child’s biological father Pater – a socially recognized father Mater – a socially recognized mother

3. Incest and Exogamy Non-industrial societies Marriage for relationship building Exogamy – marriage outside of the group Alliance building Reinforced by incest taboos Incest – sexual relations with a close relative Culture defines kin, therefore incest Marriage follows incest rules Other restrictions Age, sexual acts (sodomy)

4. Cousins and Incest Cousins and taboo Two types of first cousins Parallel – the children of two brothers or two sisters Cross – the children of a brother and sister American culture does not distinguish Moiety - each of two social groups into which a people is divided Everyone in the group belongs to one half or the other Cross cousins - opposite moiety Non-incestuous Parallel cousins – same moiety Strictly matrilineal or patrilineal societies and half-siblings Can be non-kin Many tribal societies prefer cross-cousin marriage

5. Avoidance Primates One sex will usually move away Doesn’t totally eliminate Inbreeding Decline in fertility Disease Does not account for cross vs parallel Incest restrictions are cultural constructs Exogamy ensures survival Sociopolitical function Genetic mixing

6. Endogamy Marriage of people from within the same group Formal endogamy is rare Modern society, quasi-endogamy Society, class, and ethnic groups Homogamy – marrying within the same social class Concentrates wealth Reinforces stratification Caste Ascribed stratified groups India Abolished in 1949, though structure lingers Endogamous caste groups with exogamous lineages Inter-caste sex for men and women Royalty Permissive brother-sister marriage Limits conflicts of succession Ensures royal (perhaps religious) purity Limits the number of heirs Estates intact Concentrated wealth

7. Marital Rights Marriage can, but doesn’t always: Establish the legal father of a woman’s children Give either or both spouses a monopoly on sexuality of the other Give either or both spouses rights to the labor of the other Give either or both spouses rights over the other’s property Establish a joint fund of property for the benefit of the children Establish a socially significant relationship of affinity between spouses and their relatives How are theses rights impacted by same-sex marriage, and vice-versa?

8. Marriage as Alliance Generally a non-industrial societal practice Non-romantic love-based marriage Romantic love is prevalent even in societies with arranged marriage 166 ethnographies, 147 societies (89%) Love and marriage don’t always go hand in hand Western media has spread the notion of connection Marriage gifts Descent group marriage involves the group Gifts are often given Lobola – a marital gift from the husband and his kin to the wife and her kin More widespread in patrilineal societies Compensating the bride’s group for their loss Dowry – gifts for the husband’s family from the wife’s Occurs in cultures where women are perceived as burdens Domestic violence can escalate when the dowry is perceived as insufficient Dowry murders Less common than labola

9. Pleural and Durable Marriages Pleural Marriages Can be the result of failed lobola A wife cannot produce offspring The contract is being violated The wife’s family may need to provide another female (sister) Pleural marriage is created Two types Polygyny – man with more than one wife Polyandry – woman with more than one man Sororate Widower marries sister of deceased wife Another woman from the group is no sister No need to return the lobola and the alliance persists Levirate Widow marries brother of deceased husband Less likely to result in cohabitation

10. Divorce Ease varies cross-culturally More difficult in non-industrial society More common in matrilineal Man can be sent off More difficult in patrilineal Women may be reluctant to leave Children belong to the father’s family Politics and Economics Foragers Sparse population leaves few alternatives Food producers Can draw on their descent group if marriage fails Contemporary society Economics, children, and social perception can influence marriage stability where romance, sex, and/or companionship have faded

11. Polygyny Social approval and frequency Even in societies where it’s accepted, many men remain monogamous Male female ratios are often equal Age gaps in marriage can increase polygyny Older male marriages mean more widows Number of wives can increase prosperity, in turn increasing the number of wives New membership is usually an agreement between husband and existing wives Senior wives sometimes choose junior wives No single explanation for development Ex: king of Merina and his 12 palaces

12. Polyandry Rare and specific Mostly found in SE Asia Adaptation to mobility Males travel for commerce Practice ensures there’s always a male at home Adaptation to scarce resources Fraternal polyandry Brothers pool resources and take one wife Land can be easily transmitted