KINSHIP

KINSHIP 

ü  In all societies people are bound together in groups by various kinds of bonds

ü  The most universal and most basic of these bonds is that which is based on reproduction, an inherent human drive is called KINSHIP.

ü  The desire for reproduction gives rise to two kind of bonds:

    AFFINAL KINSHIP:                         The bond between spouses and their relatives on either side

The kind of bond which arises out of a socially or legally defined marital relationship

The affinal kins are not connected to each other through blood.

CONSANGUINEOUS KINS:        The relationship based on blood ties is called consanguineous    (same blood) kinship.

                                                         In determining consanguineous kins social recognition is important; not the biological fact.

                                                           Among many primitive societies the role of a father in child’s birth is unknown (in polyandrous structure)

                                                          For instance among the Trobriand Islanders of Melanesia the wife’s husband is conventionally accepted as father.

                                                  Among the Polyandrous Toda until another brother makes the ceremonial presentation of bow and arrow to the common wife all children born to her of many brothers are regarded as the children of that brother who last performed the ceremony even though he may have been away or dead

                                                            Adopted child is everywhere treated as consanguineal kin.

DEGREES OF KINSHIP: Any relationship between two individual is based on the degree of closeness or distance of relationship. Kinship basically has three degrees

KINSHIP TERMS

Kinship terms are the terms used in designating kin of various types. The first significant study of kinship terms was made by H. Morgan. Morgan studied kinship terms from all parts of the world. He classified it into two broad categories.

CLASSIFICATORY:

Under a classification system several people, lineal as well as collateral and often even affinal are all referred to by the same term of designation. The classificatory system is the most widely used system. In most unilateral kinship system, generation is paramount and relationship is subordinate. In some matrilineal system a person calls the Grandmother (Mo Mo) with the same name as the grandmother’s sister (MoMoSi). Similarly the term for mother is also used for mother’s sister (Mo Si) and for daughter MoMoSi.

There is no place in the world either the pure descriptive or the pure classificatory system of nomenclature is used. Nephews, cousins and in laws are some examples of classificatory terms used by Modern Western Socieities. In primitive socieities for example

Sema Naga of north east use AJA for Mo, Fa, Br Wi, MoSi.

Kuki Tribe : use the term Hepu for FaFa, MoFa, MoBr, WiBrSo. People of various age group are designated by same term.

In popular Hindi Samdhin is the only classificatory term. It refers to father and mother of daughter in law and son in law.  

DESCRIPTIVE OR PARTICULARISTIC

A descriptive term of designation describes the speakers exact relation towards him/her whom he/she is referring to or addressing. Thus uncle is a classificatory term but father is a descriptive term.

KINSHIP USAGES :

In any society interaction with different types of kin are governed by certain norms. Some of these rules that are in vogue not only among primitive tribes but also in advanced civilization.

AVOIDANCE: Both within family and extended kin group are found some rules that proscribe certain interactions. For example in most traditional homes in India a bride is expected to keep a veil (purdah) and avoid talking to her husband’s father, husband’s elder brother and other elderly males. One can say that conversely a male is not supposed to talk in fact is forbidden from directly interacting with his son’s wife and younger brother’s wife. These rules may also extend to other kin of identical status.

JOKING RELATIONSHIP

The opposite of avoidance is joking relationship. Such relationship exist between for example a male and the younger sister of his wife; and a women and the younger brother of her husband. This allows an expression of familiarity, in which the two parties tease each other, exchange abuse and banter or even make obscene and vulgar references. Such relationships also exist in some societies between grandparents and grand children. Among Oraon and Baiga such joking relationships are found.    

TEKNONYMY

All over rural India and among some tribal groups like the Khasi as well and also elsewhere among the primitive societies of some parts of the world, a person is referred to as the father or the mother of his/her child teknonymously. In Mewar and other parts of India it is considered disrespectful to call the husband by his name. 

AVUNCULATE

This is a system prevalent in matriarchal societies where mother’s brother has an upper hand compared to father (in patriarchy). The primacy of mother’s brother and his authority are key features of this practice. In such a system the residence for the newlywed is AVUNCULOCAL- the couple goes to reside with mother’s brother of the groom.

AMITATE

This is opposite of Avunculate. In this system it is the father’s sister rather than mother’s brother who plays the key authoritative role. This is more likely to be case in patrilineal societies although it is found amongst the matrilineal Trobriand Islanders studied by Malinowski.

COUVADE

This is a practice to establish sociological fatherhood. In India it is reported both among the Todas of the Nilgiri Hills practice polyandry and the matrilineal Khasis of the North East. The practice consists in making a husband lead the life of an invalid along with his wife whenever she gives birth to a child. He refrains from active life, goes on sick diet and observes certain taboos. Thus the Khasi husband like his wife cannot cross a stream or wash clothes until the spirits connected with child birth re propitiated.

DESCENT

Descent in simple terms establishes how a person is related to his/her kinsman. It is a sociological affiliation of children to their parents. A rule of descent affiliates an individual with a particular group of kin through known or presumed common ancestry. Descent rules determine group membership, inheritance of property and succession to titles and offices.

 LINEAGE

Lineage is a kin group that consists of members who are the unilineal descendants of a common ancestor whose identity is traceable. A lineage generally does not include members belonging to more than five generations. A number of lineage combine to form clans.

DESCENT SYSTEMS are broadly divided as Unilineal or Non-Unilineal

UNILINEAL DESCENT SYSTEM : are the most common of all descent systems.

SIMPLE UNILINEAL STRUCTURES:

PATRILINEAL DESCENT : affiliates an individual with a group of kin who are related to him through his father alone. Thus in Patrilineal system the children in each generation belong to the descent group of their father; their father in turn belongs to the descent group of his father and son on. Although a man’s sons and daughters are all members of the same descent group, only the sons transmit affiliation to that group. The term agnatic is often used for referring to transmission of descent in the male line. 

MATRILINEAL DESCENT: affiliates an individual with a group of kin who are related to him through her mother alone. Thus in Matrilineal system the children in each generation belong to the descent group of their mother; their mother in turn belongs to the descent group of his mother and son on. Although a woman’s sons and daughters are all members of the same descent group, only the daughters transmit affiliation to that group. The term Uterine is often used for referring to transmission of descent in the female line. 

Both Matrilineal and Patrilineal rules of descent are Unilineal rules.

COMPLEX UNILINEAL STRUCTURES:

DOUBLE DESCENT: is a combination of matrilineal and patrilineal descent. A child in such a system affiliated with FaFa and MoMo only not with FaMo and MoFa.

The Ashanti Tribe of Africa offers an example of double descent. It has matrisib and patrisib. Matrisibs are called Abusua and Patrisibs termed as Ntoro.

The Toda are also known for their double descent.

 NON-UNILINEAL OR CONGNATIC SYSTEM

BILATERAL DESCENT: treat all four lines of affiliation as FaFa, FaMo, MoFa, MoMo. Bilateral kin groups is most commonly found in Australian societies.

AMBILINEAL DESCENT: tracing an individual’s descent either through the father or mother as chosen by the individual. The Maori of New Zealand and the Nayar community of Kerala India are best examples of ambilineal descent.