Families, Kinship, and Descent The Basic Building Blocks of Society.

Families, Kinship, Families, Kinship, and Descentand Descent

The Basic Building Blocks of The Basic Building Blocks of SocietySociety

Family, Kinship, DescentFamily, Kinship, Descent

• The way in which The way in which people behave toward people behave toward one another is based one another is based on they perceive their on they perceive their role; this role in most role; this role in most societies is defined by societies is defined by whom one is related to.whom one is related to.

• As we shall see, many As we shall see, many aspects of kinship and aspects of kinship and descent are socially descent are socially constructed, as is race.constructed, as is race.

Some New TerminologySome New Terminology

• AffinalsAffinals: relatives by marriage.: relatives by marriage.• Matrilineal descentMatrilineal descent: kin reckoned : kin reckoned

through the mother’s lineage.through the mother’s lineage.• Patrilineal descentPatrilineal descent: kin reckoned : kin reckoned

through the father’s lineage.through the father’s lineage.• Bilateral descentBilateral descent: kin reckoned through : kin reckoned through

both sides of the family.both sides of the family.• MatrilocalMatrilocal: marriage residence at the : marriage residence at the

mother’s family house.mother’s family house.• PatrilocalPatrilocal: marriage residence at the : marriage residence at the

father’s family house.father’s family house.

Changes in American Changes in American KinshipKinship

• Nuclear families Nuclear families important unit for important unit for several groups.several groups.

• Expanded householdsExpanded households common among the common among the lower classes (an lower classes (an adaptation to poverty?).adaptation to poverty?).

• Number of alternative Number of alternative household household organizations are organizations are becoming more becoming more commonplace (single-commonplace (single-parent families, singles, parent families, singles, childless couples, etc.).childless couples, etc.).

Descent GroupsDescent Groups

• Descent groupsDescent groups are permanent are permanent social units whose members believe social units whose members believe they have ancestors in common.they have ancestors in common.

• Descent groups are frequently Descent groups are frequently exogamous.exogamous.

• Unilineal descent is kin reckoning Unilineal descent is kin reckoning through one side of the family through one side of the family (matrilineal or patrilineal).(matrilineal or patrilineal).

• Bilateral descent reckons through Bilateral descent reckons through both lineages.both lineages.

Lineages and ClansLineages and Clans

• Common to both types of descent groups Common to both types of descent groups is the belief in an apical ancestor(s) is the belief in an apical ancestor(s) (among Christians, this would be Adam (among Christians, this would be Adam and Eve).and Eve).

• Lineages differ from clans in that Lineages differ from clans in that lineages use lineages use demonstrated descentdemonstrated descent (the (the actual genealogy can be cited).actual genealogy can be cited).

• Clans have Clans have stipulated descentstipulated descent (they just (they just say they are related because they want say they are related because they want to be!).to be!).

Apical AncestorsApical Ancestors

• Apical clan Apical clan ancestors are ancestors are commonly commonly nonhuman, and may nonhuman, and may be an animal or be an animal or plant (a totem).plant (a totem).

• Common clans of Common clans of Northwest Coast Northwest Coast Indian groups Indian groups include Raven and include Raven and Wolf.Wolf.

Kinship CalculationKinship Calculation• EgoEgo refers to the reader. refers to the reader.• MBSMBS = mother’s = mother’s

brother’s son.brother’s son.• MBDMBD = mother’s = mother’s

brother’s daughter.brother’s daughter.• MZSMZS = mother’s sister’s = mother’s sister’s

son.son.• MZDMZD = mother’s sister’s = mother’s sister’s

daughter.daughter.• FBSFBS = father’s brother’s = father’s brother’s

son.son.• FBDFBD= father’s brothers = father’s brothers

daughter.daughter.• FZSFZS = father’s sister’s = father’s sister’s

son.son.• FZDFZD= father’s sister’s = father’s sister’s

daughter.daughter.

Kinship TerminologyKinship TerminologyKinship

TerminologyKin Group Residence Rule Economy

Lineal Nuclear family Neolocal Industrialism, foraging

Bifurcate merging Unilineal descent group – patrilineal or matrilineal

Patrilocal or matrilocal

Horticulture, pastoralism, agriculture

Generational Ambilineal descent group, band

Ambilocal Agriculture, horticulture, foraging

Bifurcate collateral

Varies Varies Varies

Lineals, Collaterals, and Lineals, Collaterals, and AffinalsAffinals

Lineal Kinship Terminology Lineal Kinship Terminology (what we use)(what we use)

Bifurcate Merging Bifurcate Merging Kinship Kinship

Generational Terminology Generational Terminology (parents and siblings have (parents and siblings have

the same terms)the same terms)

Bifurcate Collateral Bifurcate Collateral Terminology (Everyone gets Terminology (Everyone gets

their own term!)their own term!)