(Lesson2) Cultural, Social, and Political Institutions: Kinship, Marriage, and The Household

(Lesson2) Cultural, Social, And Political institutions:
Kinship, Marriage, and The Household.

INTRODUCTION:
Kinship, Marriage, and household are important key concepts in the study of society and
culture. Anthropologist and Sociologists examine these concepts across different cultures and societies.
KINSHIP:
Kinship is a social institution that refers to relations formed between members of
society. It explains the nature and reason for the formation of the different types of
bonds that exist within society. Sociologist define kinship as the different forms of
socially accepted relations among people develop though blood or consanguineal
relationships, marriage or affinal relationships, adoptions, and other culturally accepted
rituals.
TYPES OF KINSHIP:
Societies develop kin relationships in different ways. It can be based on birth or
blood relations, marriage, or though the acceptance of rituals.
Kinship by Blood:
Consanguineal kinship or kinship based on blood is considered as the most
basic and general form of relations. The relationship is achieved by birth or blood
affinity. The relationship existing between parents and their children, between siblings,
and between nieces/nephews and aunts/uncles are examples of this type of kinship.
(“In the study of consanguineal” descent is an important key concept. Descent refers to a
biological relationship. Societies recognize that children descend from parents and their
offspring, Descent also often refers to an individual’s child or offspring or his or her
parents and ancestry.)
“Unilineal Descent” (Descent is usually traced by most societies though a single line
of ancestors from either the male and female line. This called as the Unilineal descent
principles.) In this principle of descent, both males and females are members of unilineal
family but their descent lines are recognized only though the relatives of either the male
or female members, Unilineal descent have two basic forms, namely, patrilineal and
matrilineal.
(“Patrilineal form of descent” Both males and females belong to the kin group of their
father but they do not belong to their mother’s kin group.)
(“Matrilineal form of descent” on the other hand, focuses on the unilineal descent that
is traced though the female line. In this form of descent pattern persons are related if
they can trace their descent though females to the same woman ancestor.)
“Bilateral Descent” Some societies trace their descent though the study of both parents
’ancestors. This is called as the nonunlineal or cognatic descent principles. There are
different forms of nonunilineal descent is the bilateral descent. In a bilateral descent
kinship is traced though both ancestral lines of the mother and father.
Kinship by Marriage:
Affinal kinship or kinship based on marriage refers to the type of relations
development when a marriage occurs. (When marriage takes place, new forms of social
relations are developed. The husband forms new relations with his wife and his wife’s
family. In the same manner, the wife also develops new relations with her husband and
with her husband’s family. Moreover. the families of both the husband and wife also
form new social relations with each other.)
Marriage is an important social institution wherein two persons, a man and a woman,
enter into family life. During this process, the partners make a public, official, and
permanent declaration of their union as lifetime couples.
” Article 1 of the Family Code of the Philippines defines marriage this way”
(it is special contract of permanent union between a man and a woman entered into in
accordance with law for the establishment of conjugal and family life.)
“Marriage across Culture’s” Different societies have different sets of cultural practices,
norms , and rules pertaining to marriage . Cultures across societies have developed
traditions, customs, rules, and norms that determine how marriage will be done.
*Endogamy and Exogamy:
-Endogamy: This form of marriage is practiced by a number of ethnic groups, religious
groups, and the aristocratic classes. (was also practiced in India until the middle of the
twentieth century.)
-Exogamy: or out-marriage, on the other hand. Refers to a marriage custom where an
individual is required by society’s norms and rules to marry outside of their own group,
community, or social classes. Exogamous marriage prevents incest or marriage within
one’s own family and clan.
*Monogamy and Polygamy:
-monogamy: came from Greek words monos and gamos which literally mean “one
union” It refers to the marriage or sexual partnering customs or practice where an
individual has only one male or female partner or mate.
-polygamy: on the other hand, refers to the practice of having more than one partner or
sexual mate. It can be polygyny (a man has multiple female partners or mates) or
polyandry (a woman has multiple male partners and mates).
Postmarital Residency Rules:

In the study of postmarital residency rules, social scientist analyze the intersection of
both the consaguineal and Affinal kinship relations. Traditionally, the residence customs
of most partners who just got married are based on well-established social tradition.
1. Patrilocal rule of residence occurs when married couples stay in the house of the
husbands relative or near the husband’s kin.
2. Matrilocal rule of residence happens when the couples live within the wife’s relative or
near the wife’s kin.
3. biolocal residence happens when the newlywed couple stay husband’s relatives and
the wife’s kin alternately.
Referred Marriage and Arranged Marriages:
This is usually called as fixed or arranged marriage. In this kind of marriage, the man or
woman’s parents, community leaders, religious official or leaders determine the marital
partner of the individual.
1. child marriage- it happens when parents arrange for the marriage of their child long
before the marriage takes place. (the marriage will be consummated in the future)
2. exchange marriage- In this form of marriage, there is a reciprocal exchange of
spouses between two countries, tribes, or groups,
3. diplomatic marriage- This form of marriage occurs when an arranged marriage has
been established between two royal or political families in order to forge political or
diplomatic alliances.
4. Modern arranged marriage- in this form of marriage, the child’s parents, within the
consent of the child, choose a meeting with the potential partner of their child. The two
children will then be given a short time to get to know each other, after which child will
choose whom he or she will marry. In this process of choosing the partner, the parents
would usually have a say in their child’s choice.
Kinship by Rituals:
Compadrazgo, literally translated as “godparent hood,” is a ritualized form of forging
co-parenthood or family. Originating in the medieval catholic church in Europe, this can
be done though the performance of catholic rituals like baptism, confirmation, and
marriage. Though the Compadrazgo set-up. A relationship between the child’s biological
parents, their children, and persons close to the parents but not related blood become a
family.
THE FAMILY AND THE HOUSEHOLD:

The family is considered the basic unit of social organization, it is made up of a group
of individual who are linked together by marriage, blood relations, or adoption. It
constitutes a single household that interrelates with each other and performs the social
roles of a husband, wife, mother, father, brother and sister
NUCLEAR FAMILY AND EXTENDED FAMILY

A nuclear family is a type of family that is made up of a group of people who are united by social
ties. It is usually made up of two adults and their socially recognized children
1. A single nuclear family and persons related to the nucleus (e.g,, a father living with his
children and other relative/s; a married couple living with other relatives)
2. Two or more nuclear families related to each other without any other persons. (e.g,, two
or more married couples with child or children)
3. Two or more nuclear families related that are related to each other, plus other persons
related to at least one of the nuclear families. An example would be two or more married
couples with other relatives only.
BLENDED OR RECONSTITUTED FAMILIES
A blended family is a type of family where the parents have a child or children from previous
marital relationship but all the members stay and congregate to form a new family unit. It is
sometimes called a step family, or a complex family.
KINSHIP OF POLITICS: POLITICAL DYNASTIES AND ALLIANCES

Political alliances are also common on the Philippines. Political parties land to align and forge
cooperation with other stronger parties or with the administration party to ensure victory in the
election or guarantee the passage of a legislation. By creating alliances, politician would
continue to receive more funds, resources and support from the ruling party or administration
party. (Politics have been influenced by kinship relations. In the Philippines most politicians
elected in public offices and government positions are relatives. This is known in politics as
political dynasty exist when “two or more individuals who are related within the second degree
of consanguinity” )

(Lesson2) Cultural, Social, and Political Institutions: Kinship, Marriage, and The Household

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(Lesson2) Cultural, Social, and Political Institutions: Kinship, Marriage, and The Household

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(Lesson2) Cultural, Social, And Political institutions:

Kinship, Marriage, and The Household.

Postmarital Residency Rules:

THE FAMILY AND THE HOUSEHOLD:

NUCLEAR FAMILY AND EXTENDED FAMILY

KINSHIP OF POLITICS: POLITICAL DYNASTIES AND ALLIANCES

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