KINSHIP BY BLOOD

CONSANGUINITY – ( BLOOD RELATIVES)

- One factor that allows an individual to identify another
individual as a family member.
- This referred to as descent or the socially accepted
connection between an ancestor and its succeeding generation.
Four main descent rules:
1. Unilineal Descent – this allows an individual to be affiliated to the descent of
one sex group only either the male or female.
Two types of Unilineal Descent
A. Matrilineal Descent – (Uterine descent) leads an individual to trace kinship
relations through the female’s line.
B. Patrilineal Descent – (Agnatic Descent) an individual traces his or her
kinship through the male’s line only.
Clan – this type of kinship is observed among groups of people who
believe that they have unilineal relations based on a common ancestor.

Totem in Canada
PHRATRIES – the identity of the kinship originator is usually unknown,
rendering him or her as a mythical being.
MOIETIES – a moiety differs from a phratry in its function of creating a
sustainable systematic balance within a society.

2. Bilateral Descent – allows an individual to trace kinship ties on both

sides of the family.

Kindred – this type of group is often united by a common relative, it

risks of dissolution when connections to the common relative is lost.
 KINSHIP OF MARRIAGE
Marriage – as the socially or ritually recognized union or legal contract
between spouses that establishes rights and obligations between them
and their children, and between them and their in-laws.

Marriage several functions:

1. It regulates mating and reproduction.
2. It creates a system that allows for sexual division of labor.
3. It provides for a family dynamics that ensures the provision of needs
of children.
4. It perpetuates economic institutions that are based on family system.
 Four types of families
1. Patrifocal and Matrifocal - this type of family is focused on one parent.
2. Monogamous – this type of family consists of single couple and their child or
children.
3. Polygamous – this type of family consists of several parents and their children.

Two types of polygamy family:

a. Polyandry – is a marriage pattern wherein a woman is allowed to marry
several men.
Fraternal Polyandry – women are allowed to marry several husbands who are at
times brothers.
a. Polygyny – is a marriage practice that allows a man to marry several women.
Sororal Polygyny – men are allowed to marry who are at times sisters.
4. Extended Family – this type of family has several married couples
and their children living in one household.

Reconstituted Family- in this type of family the current spouses were

previously married and had children.

POSTMARITAL RESIDENCY RULES:

1. Patrilocal Residence 6. Matrifocal Residence
2. Matrilocal Residence 7. Ambilocal Residence
3. Neolocal Residence 8. Transnational Families
4. Avunculocal Residence
5. Natalocal Residence
 Politics of Kinship
Political Dynasty – refers to the continuous political rule of one family.
This can be in the form of succession of rule or the occupancy of
several political positions by one family.