Chapter 7 – Sex and Marriage (Control of Sexual Relations)

1. By: Anderson, Aperna, Henry, and Jonathan Chapter 7 – Sex and Marriage (Control of Sexual Relations)

2. Table of Content • Control of Sexual Relation • Rules of Sexual Access • The Incest Taboo • Endogamy • Exogamy • The Distinction between Marriage and Mating • Common-Law Marriages • Same-Sex Marriages

3. Control of Sexual Relations • Humans engage in sexual relations when it suits them and when it is deemed appropriately by their cultural mores. • Many of the controls or restrictions on sexual activity involve adolescents. • Control over gay and lesbian sexuality varies from culture – culture. • As Christianity exerted its influence, rejection of homosexuality became more common. • Today, in Western societies, gays and lesbians are fighting for social, economic, and political recognition.

4. Rules of Sexual Access • Limits sexual behaviours in relations • In Canada and the US it was limited to marriages only • Marriage is the recognition to claims of sexual activity between the two persons • For the Nayar, they have 3 transactions • The first is called a tali-tying ceremony where a girl becomes recognized as an adult woman and becomes eligible for sexual activities later on. Lasts a few days. • The second is called the sambandham which specifies who has sexual rights to whom to avoid conflict. Women create formal relationships with men and get gifts 3 times a year at intervals as long as the relationship persists. The men gain sexual privileges. He has no economical obligations and her home was not considered his

5. Rules Continued • The third transaction is one man out of the many a woman forms a formal relationship with claims paternity for the child she becomes pregnant with. He gives more gifts and may hold interests, but still has no more obligations as the mother’s brothers takes care of the child. This establishes the childs legitimacy • Households don’t necessarily house affinal kin – relatives by marriage, and individuals with a conjugal bond – married couples, but rather with consanguineal kin – blood relatives.

6. The Incest Taboo • A prohibition of sexual activities between parent and offspring or siblings • Mostly universal except for a few exceptions • Instinct explanation or familiarity breeds contempt shows long-term association with family members discourages sexual interest. This is the simplest and least satisfying explanation for incest taboos • Psychoanalytical explanations are the attempts of offspring repressing their sexual feelings towards their opposite parent. • Genetic Explanation is the recognition of potential impaired offspring • Social Explanation or peace in the family theory suggests that competition would disturb family functions. E.g. gathering food resources • Incest taboos are not just cultural however since chimpanzee’s have been proven to follow them too.

7. Endogamy • The practice of marriage within a particular group of individuals • Goes against incest taboos • Any prohibition to incest goes against endogamy which includes marriage between cousins or in-laws • Endogamy is usually discouraged for immediate members of a family

8. Exogamy • Marriage between individuals which is only permitted outside of a social group • Cultures that follow this encourage marriage outside of the group, unlike endogamy.

9. The Distinction between Marriage and Mating • Mating is biological and marriage is cultural. Mating being biological means that it is done to satisfy sexual needs or to produce offspring whereas marriage ties one person to the other socially. • Marriage is Monogamous which means that they generally only have one partner in their lifetime • Mating patterns, are not monogamous.

10. Common-Law Marriages • Common-law marriages are defined as the relationship between two persons who cohabit or live together for a period of at least one year before their partnership is recognized • These couples have all the rights and responsibilities of husband and wives such as pension plans, old-age security, and taxation. • Canadians entering common-law marriages are increasing. • Close to 1.2 million couples lived in common-law relationships in 2001, up to 20% from 1995. • Quebec leads the provinces in common-law relationships. • Common-law families have grown more than any other type of family. • One couple in seven living in common-law in 1996 in comparison to one in nine in 1991.

11. Same-Sex Marriages- Western • However, in western culture, same-sex marriage happens for homosexual reasons. Also, they can enjoy pension plans and can be considered common-law partners. • Restrictions • - Church • - Law

12. Same-Sex Marriages - Nandi • In Nandi culture the wife of a man may change her status into that of a man and marry another woman. Reasons for this include the need of a male heir to inherit properties and it enhances social statuses too. The Wife acting as a man must abandon all sexual activities, but she gains power equal to other men. The wife of the woman might’ve had a pre-marital pregnancy and this would normally destroy her social status which is avoidable in a same-sex marriage