Chapter 1 Family g Marriage 1 Anthropologists describe the walking marriage as a custom unique to the Mosuo, ‘This small ethnic population resides in China on the border of the Yunnan and Sichuan provinces, adjacent to Tibet. Here, male and female romantic partners do not make legal ‘vows of matrimony or even live together in the same residence, Instead, upon being invited by a woman, a man will walk to his partner’s home after dark and return to his own family early the next day, hence the name walking marriage. These unions, whether short- or long-term, are based upon mutual love and affection with no strings attached. There is no sharing of finances or even of child-rearing responsibilities, which rest solely in the hands of the woman’s family. 2 The Mosuo culture is a matrilineal society, so called because the children take their ‘mother’s surname and lineage is traced through the female side of the family. Children are also raised exclusively by the woman’s extended family—grandparents, parents, uncles, and aunts—who all generally live in the same household, Accordingly, the child hhas the appropriate male influence, with the male members of the woman's family acting as paternal substitutes. A child’s father may, however, elect to participate in the parenting yi of his biological child, If so, he is awarded special status within his partner's family. Nevertheless, his permanent residence remains with his maternal relatives, where he ‘must fulfill the parental responsibilities associated with his sister’s, aunt's, or mother’s children. 3. _ While this form of marriage may seem somewhat odd, it offers numerous advantages. First, there are no loveless marriages, and there is no staying together for the sake of the children, Second, there is no divorce and no division of property upon divorce. Furthermore, there are no child custody issues, since it is understood that all children are to be raised by the mother’s family. Third, there is no preference for a child ofa specific gender, because both males and females are equally capable of caring for aging family ‘members, Finally, in the case of a parent dying prematurely, there are various altemative role models who can assume the required parental duties. For these reasons, the walking ‘marriage has proved to be an exceptionally stable system—one which is still practiced by the Mosuo of picturesque Lugu Lake, high in the Himalayas. Reading Time: __minutes, __ seconds 285 words/# of minutes words per minute 1R9 Test Questions What are the steps for answering vocabulary questions? If necessary, refer to the How to Answer Vocabulary Questions chart on page 2. Your instructor will write the steps on the board. 1, According to paragraph 1, the phrase 3. According to paragraph 1, the word adjacent to is closest in meaning to ‘mutual is closest in meaning to a) bordering on a) interpersonal b) east of b) marital ©) parallel to ©) romantic ) similar to 4) shared 2. According to paragraph 1, the word vows 4. According to paragraph 1, the phrase in is closest in meaning to the hands of is closest in meaning to a) ceremonies a) the wish of b) contracts b) the choice of ©) promises ©) the duty of 4) requirements 4) the iment of "Chapter 1 Family 12 5. According to paragraph 2, the word 10. According to paragraph 3, the word sake lineage is closest in meaning to is closest in meaning to a) alliance a) benefit ») ancestry ) destiny ©) parents ) raising 4) relationships 4) safekeeping 6. According to paragraph 2, the word 11. According to paragraph 3, the word traced is closest in meaning to custody is closest in meaning to a) copied from an original a) confinement ») followed back in time b) guardianship ©) decided afier consideration ) ownership 4) suggested by experts 4) separation 7. According to paragraph 2, the word 12, According to paragraph 3, the word paternal is closest in meaning to prematurely is closest in meaning to a) altemative a) before adulthood b) fatherly b) before childbirth ) required ©) before the child d) supportive 4d) before expected 8. According to paragraph 3, the word 13. According to paragraph 3, the phrase maternal is closest in meaning to role models is closest in meaning to a) familiar a) loving parents b) married b) positive examples 6) related through the mother ) umusual characters 4) motherly d) paternal relatives 9. According to paragraph 3, the wordodd 14. According to paragraph 3, the word is closest in meaning to picturesque is closest in meaning to a) absurd a) imaginary ») original b) mysterious ©) unique ©) photorealistic ¢) unusual d) scenic Seo §§ Academic Discussion 1, What is your opinion about the walking marriage? 2. Compare the walking marriage with legal marriage practiced in most countries. What are the advantages and disadvantages of each? 3. Do you think the walking marriage is a better system than legal m. most countries? Why or why not? 4, How do you think children would react to being brought up only by maternal relatives? How do you think they would feel about being separated from their father? 5. Is divorce prevalent in your country? Do you think the walking marriage would be a g00d solution to the divorce problem in some countries? Why or why not? 6. Do you think marriages should be based on anything besides mutual love and affection? Why or why not? 7. What do you think of an extended family living together in one house? Is this @ good or a bad idea? 8. Why is it that there are so very few societies in which children take the mother’s sumame? e practiced in