1. 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

2. Kinship Definition Examples:
The ways in which people selectively interpret the common human experiences of reproduction and nurturance
Who can marry whom?
To whom do children belong?
Where should husbands/wives/ children/others live?
Who is in my family?

3. Descent A social rule assigning identity on the basis of ancestry
Types:
Unilineal
patrilineal
matrilineal
dual
Cognatic
bilateral
ambilineal

4. Descent Systems unilineal descent systems cognatic descent systems
matrilineal descent
dual descent
patrilineal descent
bilateral descent
ambilineal descent

5. 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

6. Patrilineal Descent
Ancestor

7. 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
Descent traced through the female line

8. Matrilineal Descent
Ancestor

9. Unilineal Descent Dual Descent
least common system of unilineal descent
two lines of descent may govern various sorts of inheritance, alliance, and so on
Two lines of descent serve different purposes

10. Cognatic Descent Ambilineal Bilateral
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
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

11. Bilateral Descent System
EGO
Bilateral Kin

12. 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

13. 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)

14. 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

15. Parallel Cousin Marriage
Cross Cousin Marriage
Parallel Cousin Marriage

16. Marriage and Economic Exchange
Bridewealth/service
Dowry
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
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

17. Plural Marriage/Polygamy
Polygyny
Polyandry
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
Union of one woman to two or more men in marriage
More rare
Typically involves brothers marrying one woman

18. 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