ANTH V02- Cultural Anthropology

Lecture: KINSHIP

Kinship: Basis of group formation and relationships; family lines

Descent Groups: Affiliations between children and parents.

Kindred : A unique kin network made up of all the people related to a specific individual.

Consanguineal Kin :Related by blood ties. 

Affinal Kin: Related by marriage; in-laws.

Fictive Kin: Expectation of Kin relationship

Genitor: Biological father

Pater

· Socially designated father

· May or may not be biological father

Functions of Kinship

· Continuity

· Inheritance

· Identity

Kinship terms:

• Labels culturally defined:
• terms of address
• terms of reference
• Unique to different cultures

Kinship & Anthropology

• Essential in Fieldwork
• Geneaology: a family history
• Kinship Diagrams: Illustrate relationships

Descent Group

• Kin who are lineal descendants of common ancestor
• Beyond two generations

Types of Descent

· Unilineal

· Bilateral

IUnilineal descent: Patrilineal & Matrilineal

· Membership based on links through either maternal or paternal line

· Not both

Patrilineal Descent: Affiliates children with kin of both sexes related through males only.

Patrilineage

nDescent is traced through male lineage.

nInheritance moves from father to son.

nMan’s position as father & husband is the most important source of male authority

nExamples:Maasai, PNG, India

A Lineage

• Corporate descent group
• Trace genealogical links to common ancestor
• Corporate Identity
• Emphasis on Group
• Responsibility
• Identity
• Family Involvement (example of Romeo & Juliet)

Cross Cousin Marriage

nExogamous: Not in Lineage

n Strengthen social ties

Matrilineal Descent: A rule that affiliates a person to kin of both sexes related through females only.

  Matrilineage

• Descent is traced through the female line.
• Children belong to the mother’s descent group
• The inclusion of a husband in the household is less important.
• Women usually have higher status
• Examples: Hopi, Na of China

Bilateral Descent

• Both maternal and paternal lines are used in reckoning descent
• Individual’s choice
• Kindred: Added/Deleted by EGO