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fandomhigh2005-10-26 04:56 pm
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Introduction to Anthropology
Daniel's in a good mood, doodling on a notebook at the front of the class. He is not writing "I love Janet" or "Dr Daniel and Dr Janet Jackson". Really
"Today, our subject should hopefully be less frightening to most of you," he grins. "Marriage.
Marriage is a socially approved union of a man and woman regulating their sexual and economic rights and obligations
It's a sexual union:
- marriage socially legitimates sexual relations
- it regulates sexual behaviour and reproduction
and has economic obligations: marriage structures the sexual division of labour.
There are three types of marriage union.
MONOGAMY
This is marriage to one spouse at a time, and is the most common in Western civilization. Extramarital affairs or serial monogamy may occur, but these tend not to be sanctioned.
POLYGYNY
When it's the marriage of one man to two or more women. 70 percent of the world's population practice it; why do you think that is? Anyone?
It's a preferred type of marriage, although the majority of men in polygynous societies have only one wife.
Now, why does it happen? The economic status of women is high in polygynous societies, they are assets to domestic production unit. The sex ratio in polygynous societies; there are fewer marriageable men because men commonly marry later than women, and also because there may be of higher mortality among men, for example, due to warfare.
What are the advantages of polygyny? It's a symbol of prestige for men & their families, and multiple affinal connections are economic & political assets.
However, thee is competition and/or jealousy among wives. Women may have their own separate homes, and the rights and obligations of co-wives are clearly defined. A form hierarchy may exist among co-wives (senior v. junior). Some have found that sororal polygyny, which is the marriage of sisters, may reduce problems.
POLYANDRY
This is the marriage of one women to two or more men. It is the least common form of marriage, and women usually marry group of brothers - even the ones not yet born. Polyandry may serve to keep assets, for example, land, within the family, by not having to split the land further into smaller plots.
Okay, homework for this class. Chose a culture, and write about the type of marriage it involves. Not your own, however. The idea of this class is that we're looking at different cultures."
"Today, our subject should hopefully be less frightening to most of you," he grins. "Marriage.
Marriage is a socially approved union of a man and woman regulating their sexual and economic rights and obligations
It's a sexual union:
- marriage socially legitimates sexual relations
- it regulates sexual behaviour and reproduction
and has economic obligations: marriage structures the sexual division of labour.
There are three types of marriage union.
MONOGAMY
This is marriage to one spouse at a time, and is the most common in Western civilization. Extramarital affairs or serial monogamy may occur, but these tend not to be sanctioned.
POLYGYNY
When it's the marriage of one man to two or more women. 70 percent of the world's population practice it; why do you think that is? Anyone?
It's a preferred type of marriage, although the majority of men in polygynous societies have only one wife.
Now, why does it happen? The economic status of women is high in polygynous societies, they are assets to domestic production unit. The sex ratio in polygynous societies; there are fewer marriageable men because men commonly marry later than women, and also because there may be of higher mortality among men, for example, due to warfare.
What are the advantages of polygyny? It's a symbol of prestige for men & their families, and multiple affinal connections are economic & political assets.
However, thee is competition and/or jealousy among wives. Women may have their own separate homes, and the rights and obligations of co-wives are clearly defined. A form hierarchy may exist among co-wives (senior v. junior). Some have found that sororal polygyny, which is the marriage of sisters, may reduce problems.
POLYANDRY
This is the marriage of one women to two or more men. It is the least common form of marriage, and women usually marry group of brothers - even the ones not yet born. Polyandry may serve to keep assets, for example, land, within the family, by not having to split the land further into smaller plots.
Okay, homework for this class. Chose a culture, and write about the type of marriage it involves. Not your own, however. The idea of this class is that we're looking at different cultures."
no subject
no subject