Unilineal kinship

1
Unilineal kinship

• Trace line of descent either through males
  Patrilineal or through females Matrilineal
• One parent and child belong, other parent doesnt
• Unilineal group is collective group, endures
  through time

2
Unilineal kinship 2

• Membership determined at birth, may be ways to
  incorporate outsiders
• Clear group boundaries, groups separated from
  each other
• Include large number of people who think of
  themselves as relatives

3
Unilineal kinship 3

• Mythology of group tells of heroic
  deeds,illustrious ancestors
• Myths and symbols reinforce solidarity of group

4
Functions of unilineal groups

• Mutual aid and securitymembers have collective
  responsibility for behavior and debt, obliged to
  aid each other
• Regulate marriageusually cant marry member of
  grouphave strong say in who one can marry

5

• Unilineal kin groups can provide the model to
  organize the entire society.
• Government
• e.g. chief from certain clan
• Economic
• kin group owns land and herds, occupation
  hereditary in group

6

• Religious
• care of gods or specific ceremonies in
• hands of particular kin groups
• royal ancestors important to welfare of
• entire society

7

• Unilineal kinshp in 2/3 of sample of societies
• Most common in horticultural societies societies
  complex enough to need organization and
  inheritance rules but simple enough not to need
  specialized institutions

8
Ways to unite unilineal groups

• Marriage ties
• Age sets or other associations
• Interdependent religious ceremonies, market,
  government, warfare

9
Genealogy of unilineal groups

• Concern is with social utility (group operates
  well) rather than historical accuracy
• If actual genealogy results in imbalance, group
  can be reorganized

10
Patrilineal societies

• Patrilinealchild belongs to Fathers group
  Rule of descent
• PatrilocalWife joins husbands family after
  marriage Rule of residence
• PatriarchyDominance by men

11
Matrilineal societies

• Matrilinealchild belongs to Mothers group
  Rule of descent
• MatrilocalHusband joins wifes family after
  marriage Rule of residence
• MatriarchyDominance by women No known
  societies have been matriarchal.