Families, Kinship, and Descent

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

2. Family, Kinship, Descent • The way in which people behave toward one another is based on they perceive their role; this role in most societies is defined by whom one is related to. • As we shall see, many aspects of kinship and descent are socially constructed, as is race.

3. Some New Terminology Affinals: relatives by marriage. Matrilineal descent: kin reckoned through the mother’s lineage. Patrilineal descent: kin reckoned through the father’s lineage. Bilateral descent: kin reckoned through both sides of the family. Matrilocal: marriage residence at the mother’s family house. Patrilocal: marriage residence at the father’s family house.

4. Changes in American Kinship • Nuclear families important unit for several groups. • Expanded households common among the lower classes (an adaptation to poverty?). • Number of alternative household organizations are becoming more commonplace (single-parent families, singles, childless couples, etc.).

5. Descent Groups Descent groups are permanent social units whose members believe they have ancestors in common. Descent groups are frequently exogamous. Unilineal descent is kin reckoning through one side of the family (matrilineal or patrilineal). Bilateral descent reckons through both lineages.

6. Lineages and Clans Common to both types of descent groups is the belief in an apical ancestor(s) (among Christians, this would be Adam and Eve). Lineages differ from clans in that lineages use demonstrated descent (the actual genealogy can be cited). Clans have stipulated descent (they just say they are related because they want to be!).

7. Apical Ancestors • Apical clan ancestors are commonly nonhuman, and may be an animal or plant (a totem). • Common clans of Northwest Coast Indian groups include Raven and Wolf.

8. Kinship Calculation • Ego refers to the reader. • MBS = mother’s brother’s son. • MBD = mother’s brother’s daughter. • MZS = mother’s sister’s son. • MZD = mother’s sister’s daughter. • FBS = father’s brother’s son. • FBD= father’s brothers daughter. • FZS = father’s sister’s son. • FZD= father’s sister’s daughter.

9. Kinship Terminology Kinship Terminology Kin 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

10. Lineals, Collaterals, and Affinals

11. Lineal Kinship Terminology (what we use)‏

12. Bifurcate Merging Kinship

13. Generational Terminology (parents and siblings have the same terms)‏

14. Bifurcate Collateral Terminology (Everyone gets their own term!)‏