ANTC09H3 Week 2 Readings
Reading #1: Kinship and Marriage Book Pg. 27 – 53 (Just a few of the highlighted notes)
Polygyny: a case in which a man has several wives
Descent groups: groups whose members claim to be descended from a common ancestor
o Where actual relationship can actually be demonstrated, and not simply assumed, the
group is called a lineage
So we could have matrilineages, patrilineages, and cognatic lineages
o Units consisting of several linkages in which common descent is assumed but cannot
necessarily be demonstrated is a clan
Matrilineal: members of a group are related to each other through females only (i.e.
membership in a group for whatever reason).
o Uterine is used as a synonym for matrilineal
Patrilineal: members of a group are related to each other through males only (i.e. membership
in a group for whatever reason).
o Agnatic is used as a synonym for patrilineal
Cognatic: members of a group are related to each other both through females and males (i.e.
membership in a group for whatever reason).
Matrilineal/patrilineal type of system is usually called unilineal
o i.e. uses only one ‘line’ (male or female) in tracing kinship
o has some obvious advantages:
assigns an individual to one group only and avoids problems of overlapping
groups
avoids inheritance problems
Exogamy: prohibition of marriage within the group; marrying outside the group
Endogamy: marrying within the group
Reading #2: Kinship and Marriage Pg 77 – 96
Matrilocal: the couple on marriage take residence with the wife’s mother
o Uxorilocal: the couple takes up residence with the wife’s group
Patrilocal: the couple upon marriage take residence with the husband’s father
o Virilocal: the couple takes up residence with the husband’s group
Natolocal: the couple stays in their natal homes (stays put) upon marriage
Neolocal: the couple finds their own residence upon marriage
Ambilocal: there is a choice made where to live either near either the husband’s or wife’s
parents
Polyandry: where the wife has more than one husband
Reading #3: Kinship and Marriage Pg 97-121