Bilateral

Definition

Bilateral refers to something that involves or affects two sides, parties, or aspects. In the context of kinship and family structures, it describes a system of tracing descent and relationships through both the paternal and maternal lines.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. In a bilateral kinship system, individuals trace their ancestry and family relationships through both their mother's and father's lineages.
2. Bilateral kinship is commonly found in societies with a strong emphasis on nuclear families and individual autonomy, rather than extended family or clan-based structures.
3. Bilateral systems often result in a larger pool of recognized kin compared to unilineal systems, which can influence inheritance, residence patterns, and social obligations.
4. Bilateral kinship is associated with greater flexibility in family and marriage arrangements, as individuals have a wider range of potential kin and affinal relationships to draw upon.
5. The rise of bilateral kinship is linked to the transition from more traditional, agrarian-based societies to modern, industrialized ones with increased social and geographic mobility.

Review Questions

• Explain how a bilateral kinship system differs from a unilineal system in terms of tracing descent and family relationships.
  • In a bilateral kinship system, individuals trace their ancestry and family relationships through both their mother's and father's lineages, whereas in a unilineal system, descent and relationships are traced through only one parent's line, either the paternal (patrilineal) or maternal (matrilineal) side. This results in a larger pool of recognized kin in bilateral systems and greater flexibility in family and marriage arrangements, as individuals have a wider range of potential kin and affinal relationships to draw upon.
• Describe the societal factors that are associated with the rise of bilateral kinship systems.
  • The rise of bilateral kinship systems is often linked to the transition from more traditional, agrarian-based societies to modern, industrialized ones with increased social and geographic mobility. In these contexts, there is a greater emphasis on nuclear families and individual autonomy, rather than extended family or clan-based structures. The flexibility and broader range of recognized kin in bilateral systems can better accommodate the changing social and economic dynamics of modern societies, where individuals may have more diverse family and marriage arrangements.
• Analyze how the shift from unilineal to bilateral kinship systems may impact inheritance patterns and social obligations within a society.
  • The transition from unilineal to bilateral kinship systems can have significant implications for inheritance patterns and social obligations within a society. In a bilateral system, individuals have a larger pool of recognized kin, which can lead to more complex and potentially contested inheritance arrangements, as there are more potential heirs to consider. Additionally, the broader range of kin relationships in a bilateral system may result in a more diffuse network of social obligations and reciprocal expectations, as individuals have a wider circle of family members to support and be supported by. This can create both opportunities and challenges for individuals navigating the dynamics of their kinship networks in modern societies.

Related terms

Unilineal: A system of tracing descent and relationships through only one parent's line, either the paternal (patrilineal) or maternal (matrilineal) side.

Cognatic: A type of bilateral kinship system where descent and inheritance are traced through both the father's and mother's sides of the family.

Consanguineal: Kinship ties based on blood or genetic relationships, as opposed to affinal (marriage-based) relationships.