Cross-cousin marriage

Definition

Cross-cousin marriage refers to the practice of marrying the children of one's mother's brother or father's sister, establishing a kinship bond that is often encouraged in various cultures. This form of marriage is significant as it reinforces social ties and helps to maintain alliances between families, thereby playing a crucial role in kinship systems and social structures across different societies.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Cross-cousin marriage is commonly practiced in many cultures around the world, including among various Native American tribes, where it can strengthen family ties and communal bonds.
2. This practice is often seen as a way to maintain property within the family and avoid the fragmentation of family wealth over generations.
3. In societies where cross-cousin marriage is prevalent, it can influence inheritance patterns, gender roles, and social status within the community.
4. The preference for cross-cousin marriages varies among cultures; some may encourage it strongly while others may only allow it under certain conditions.
5. Cross-cousin marriage can help create larger kinship networks, enhancing social cohesion and mutual support among families.

Review Questions

• How does cross-cousin marriage impact kinship systems and social structures in various cultures?
  • Cross-cousin marriage plays a significant role in shaping kinship systems by reinforcing familial ties and creating larger networks of relationships. In many cultures, this practice encourages the pooling of resources and strengthens alliances between families. Additionally, by facilitating marriages that connect families across generations, cross-cousin marriages can influence social organization and cultural practices within a community.
• Compare and contrast cross-cousin marriage with other forms of marital arrangements such as endogamy and exogamy.
  • Cross-cousin marriage can be seen as a middle ground between endogamy and exogamy. While endogamy restricts marriages to within a specific group, cross-cousin marriage promotes unions that link two distinct families while still maintaining kinship ties. In contrast, exogamy encourages marrying outside one’s group, broadening alliances beyond immediate kin. Each arrangement serves different social functions, with cross-cousin marriage particularly focused on strengthening intra-family relationships.
• Evaluate the implications of cross-cousin marriage on inheritance patterns and social status in societies that practice it.
  • In societies that endorse cross-cousin marriage, the implications on inheritance patterns can be profound. This practice often leads to the retention of property within extended families, reducing the risk of asset dilution that can occur through broader marital practices. Additionally, such marriages can elevate social status by enhancing alliances between influential families, thus consolidating power and resources. Over time, these dynamics can shape societal hierarchies and influence how status is perceived and maintained across generations.

Related terms

Endogamy: A marriage practice where individuals are required to marry within a specific social group, caste, or community.

Exogamy: The practice of marrying outside one's social group or community, often to expand alliances and connections.

Kinship: The web of social relationships that forms an important part of the lives of most humans in most societies, encompassing family ties and connections.