Alex K.

Ruuska, PhD
NMU
Lecture 32

Especially in nonindustrialized societies,

KINSHIP, DESCENT, and
MARRIAGE are the basic
social building blocks
FAMILIES based on BLOOD,
MARRIAGE, or CHOICE
HOUSEHOLDS based on
propinquity (nearness in
space & time; near or close
kinship)
KINSHIP IS SOCIALLY
CONSTRUCTED

Amazon River
People

a family which extends beyond the nuclear family to include

relatives living close by (AskOxford.com)
Consists of 3 or more generations

Dont have to live together, but may

a family that includes in one household near relatives in
addition to a nuclear family
Which relationships are most critical depends on culture

newly married couple moves in with either the

bride or groom's family
multiple reproducing pairs and their children
parents of the married couples
found in horticultural and pastoral societies;
modified form in agricultural societies

~20 people all living and working together as

a unit to provide subsistence for that
household.
Advantages: responsibilities can be
distributed among members
no one individual is responsible for all duties

Extended family household of the western

Bosnia

Large family structure; ~70-100 people

living together

Headed by male household head and his wife

Includes married sons and their wives and

children, and unmarried sons and daughters

Each nuclear family: has a sleeping room

Possessions shared by the Zadruga

Patrilineal, Patrilocal, Patriarchal

Patrilineal: Lineage traced through fathers
line only
Patrilocal: Each couple resides in the
husbands fathers household after marriage
Patriarchal: head male makes major decisions
for the entire group

Strengths of this family model?

Potential weaknesses?

How would the role of an individual

compare and contrast in an nuclear family
versus an extended family such as the
Zadruga?

Many modern nations are characterized by

geographic mobility
Industrialism is often associated with the
nuclear family
Neolocality: Married couples move to where
their jobs are

Industrial societies

Foraging societies

Foraging societies: household is NOT the economic

unit of production; 40-60 members
Industrial societies: IS household the independent
unit of production?

parents and their young children (up to the

time of adulthood)
living as an independent group in a dwelling
separated from the rest of their kin.

Dominant Family
Structures
Nuclear Family: a couple
and their dependent
children, regarded as a
basic social unit
1st- Family of Origin
(FAMILY of
ORIENTATION)
(Parents, Siblings)
2nd- Family that you
marry into (FAMILY of
PROCREATION)
(Spouse, Children)
3rd- Reconstituted
Families, through
death or divorce

Extended Family
e.g. Zadruga and
Nayar
Patrilocal (esp.
Pastoralism)
Matrilocal (esp.
horticultural
societies)
Neolocal
Patrilineal
Matrilineal

Many modern
nations are
characterized by
geographic mobility
Industrialism is often
associated with the
nuclear family
Neolocality: Married
couples move to
where their jobs are

Importance of Family
Structures to
Anthropological
Research

UNIVERSAL PHENOMENON

TAKES DIFFERENT SHAPES

ADAPTIVE STRATEGY

FAMILY TYPE OFTEN VARIES WITH ADAPTIVE

STRATEGY- E.G. for Foraging, Agriculture,
etc.

Marriage
Allowable Marriage
Partner
When sexual
relationships are
possible
Social sanctions for
violating rules
Bari, South America,
pregnant women have
sex with multiple
partners

Enculturation
Romania: first 7 years,
teach morals and values
Idea that parents are
responsible

At what point are people

held accountable for their
own actions in this
country?

Stigma is attached to
having children outside of
wedlock in some societies
Kin-based societies
Access to power, status,
and resources
E.g. land and livelihood:
horticultural and pastoral
societies

Each person has a specific

role
Wife, Husband , Children

Similar to
family
More
formalized
Deals with
larger social
system than
the household

Developed first by
Lewis Henry
Morgan
Book: Systems of
Consanguinity and
Affinity of the
Human Family
(1871).
Popular Science Monthly/Volume
18/November 1880/Sketch of Lewis H
Morgan

Discovery of the
difference
between
descriptive and
classificatory
kinship

Classificatory
Kinship:
put people into
society-wide
kinship classes on
the basis of
abstract
relationship rules.

Kin Group

Residence Rule

Economy

Nuclear family

Neolocal

Industrialism, foraging,
Eskimo

Unilineal descent group

patrilineal or matrilineal

Patrilocal or matrilocal

Horticulture, pastoralism,
agriculture (Iroquois)

Ambilineal descent group,

band

Ambilocal

Agriculture, horticulture, foraging,

Hawaian

Varies

Varies

Varies

1.Kinship (more than family) helps to regulate

access to property.

2. kinship and
kin rules
determine who
does what in
ceremonial
functions.
Family roles in
Wedding?
Rites of
Passage?

3. kinship
helps regulate
labor. (e.g.
Barn Building,
Horticulture,
Agriculture,
Pastoralism)

4. regulate access
to leadership
positions
This is especially
true for kin based
(as opposed to
class based)
Advantages?
Disadvantages?

kin groups for which membership is ascribed

based on your being a descendent of a
particular real or mythical ancestor.

who you trace your descent through

The different types of descent groups can be

grouped into two general categories.

1. UNILINEAL
2. BILATERAL
1. UNILINEAL: descent systems found in food
producing societies such as horticultural,
pastoral and agricultural societies
KEY: importance of land
Descent groups tend to regulate access to land,
something very important to maintaining
survival.

BILATERAL DESCENT

Found in Foraging and Industrial Societies

E.g. United States and Europe

The Himba of Namibia live under a tribal

structure based on bilateral descent.

Relative of
mother and father
equally important
West Africa, India,
Australia,
Melanesia,
Polynesia

Adapt to extreme
environments

Consider difference between family and kinship

Kinship is an ascribed status- its forever; family may change through
divorce

According to Jewish law (halakhah), "Your son by an

Israelite woman is called your son, but your son by
a heathen woman is not called your son" (Kid. 68b).
Thus, a child who is born of a Jewish mother is
considered Jewish irrespective of the religion of the
child's father or of the child's level of Jewish
observance or knowledge. However, the child born
of a Jewish father and a non-Jewish mother,
regardless of his Jewish practice or knowledge, is
not recognized as a Jew Reconstructionist
movements.
http://www.answers.com/topic/patrilineal-descent-controversy

http://cdn.overstock.com/images/products/L10704498.jpg

Loyalties in
nonindustrial societies
vs. industrial societies
Loyalty measures, e.g.
Confucius
Family, Community,
Region, Nation