CHAPTER 5 :

CULTURAL, SOCIAL AND

POLITICAL INSTITUTIONS
 Society is a natural institution developed as a
product of human interactions and to meet
basic needs; society is a product of a social
contract or agreement among members of the
society; and that societies progressed from the
primitive stage to a more developed one.
LESSON 1:
KINSHIP, MARRIAGE AND THE
HOUSEHOLD
Kinship
• is defined either by
consanguinity or affinity

CONSAGUINITY - the fact of being

descended from the same ancestor

AFFINITY - relationship, especially by

marriage as opposed to blood ties.
Kinship
• The former refers to the kinship through
bloodline while the latter points to the kind
of kinship that is formed out of marriage or
ritual.
Kinship by Blood
(Consanguineal)
This kinship is based on blood—or birth: the relationship
between parents and children as well as siblings, says the
Sociology Group. This is the most basic and universal type of
kinship. Also known as a primary kinship, it involves people
who are directly related.
Kinship by Blood

• In a unilineal descent, when a child is born,

he or she is automatically assigned to either
his or her mother's or father's group.
Kinship by Blood

• In a patrilineal descent, children are

automatically made members of the father's
group only. The concrete implication of this
practice is the recognition of the male or male
offspring as the sustainer of the family lineage.
Kinship by Blood

• In a matrilineal descent, children are

automatically made members of the mother's
group only. The concrete implication of this
practice is the recognition of the female or female
offspring as the carrier of the family lineage.
Kinship by Blood

• In the double unilineal descent, the child at

birth is assigned to the mother's group or
father's group for specific purposes.
Kinship by Blood

• Lastly, bilateral descent is used to categorize

children that are made members of all
ancestors' groups-of both parents and
grandparents, among others.
 Kinship by Marriage
(Affinity)
Human kinship relations through marriage are
commonly called "affinity"
Kinship by Marriage

• Monogamy happens when both married

partners only have one spouse: each other.
Kinship by Marriage

• Polygamy, on the one hand, occurs when one

individual has multiple spouses; however,
even when it is allowed, not all individuals
practice it as there are economic obligations to
be met, such as paying dowry and supporting
the spouse and children.
Kinship by Marriage

• Polygyny, on the other hand, happens when

one man is married to more than one woman
simultaneously. Polygyny is often practiced in
societies where women outnumber men in the
population. Polygyny often occurs in societies
with a high incidence of war and violence.
Kinship by Marriage

• Polyandry refers to the condition when a

woman is married to more than one man
simultaneously. This is often practiced so that
there may be enough labor for the household
that engages in farming, herding, and trading
that are simultaneously done.
Kinship by Ritual
(Compadrazgo)

The term embraces the words padrinazgo and

compadrazgo.
Kinship by Ritual

• The former refers to spiritual parenthood

which emphasizes a vertical relationship
(ritual linkage between godparents and
godchildren).
Kinship by Ritual

• Compadrazgo means ritual co-parenthood, which

stresses a horizontal relationship or ritual ties
binding adults. Godparents and natural parents
are invited in the ceremony.
Kinship by Ritual

• Their purpose is not only to provide their son

or daughter a godfather who has a prestigious
career but also establish their link to the
politician himself so they can ask any favor
from the latter in the guise of their child's
need and connection to the godfather.
 Family
and the
Household
Nuclear family
• refers to the "smallest family unit... consisting
of one or two parents and offspring, which
may include a stepparent, step siblings, and
adopted children."
Extended family
• is when three or more generations form a
household.
Single-parent families
• refer to family units with one parent with one
or more children. Single parent families may
be the consequence of divorce or separation,
births to unmarried mothers, death of a
spouse, or desertion.
Stepfamilies
• are family units where one or both members
have children from their previous relationship.