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Cultural Anthropology
Chapter Seven:
Sex and Marriage
Meet The Natives 4
Copyright © 2009 by Nelson Education Ltd.
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 What is Marriage?
 What is the Difference Between Marriage and Mating?
 Why Is Marriage Universal?
Copyright © 2009 by Nelson Education Ltd.
Human Sexuality
 Cross-cultural studies
of human sexuality
have become more
common since the
1980s
 Studies show
significant cultural
variation in the way
sexuality is viewed,
practiced and
controlled
 Culture regulates
sexual behaviour
In anthropology, one of
the main questions
regarding human
sexuality is... who can
have sex with whom?
And as well...who
marries whom?
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The Incest Taboo
 Prohibition of sexual relations between individuals
 Explanations
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
Psychoanalytical
Genetic
Social (peace in the family)
Cooperation
 No explanation yet convincing
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The Toda of South India
-historically were polyandrous, which
means the woman could marry several
husbands concurrently. Often these men
were brothers. This arrangement was known
as fraternal polyandry by
anthropologists.
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Homosexual Behaviour
 Common worldwide yet the definition varies cross-
culturally
In Western cultures, homosexuality is defined as the
desire to have sexual relations with someone of the same
sex
Among the Navaho, it is based more on gender roles
than on biological sex
In many cultures, homosexuality is seen as natural and
expected
Alternative genders or transgenders have been identified
in many cultures
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Etoro of New Guinea
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Marriage
A relationship between
people recognized by
society that provides a
continuing claim to sexual
access
The Kidnapped Bride
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Endogamy and Exogamy
 Endogamy:
marriage
within a
group
 Exogamy:
marriage
outside a
group
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Same-Sex Marriage
Marriages between individuals of the same sex
- In Canada, the rights of common-law partnerships have been extended to
same-sex couples, however true equality has yet to be achieved
- In some provinces, same-sex couples can legally marry. But this option is
not available in the whole of Canada, as of yet.
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Forms of Marriage
 Monogamy
 Serial Monogamy
 Polygamy…The Masai
 Polygyny
 Polyandry
 Group marriage
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Serial Monogamy…
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Person lives with a series of spouses in succession
50% of 1st marriages in U.S. end in divorce
Children usually remain with the mother
Some mothers remarry to get assistance
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Choice of Spouse
Arranged marriage…
• Marriage often too important to be left to the decision of young
people
• Involves a transfer of rights between families
• Tends to be for the economic and political advantage of the family unit
• Helen Fisher: Why We Love, Why We Cheat
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Cousin Marriage
Types of Cousin Marriage:
 Patrilateral Parallel-Cousin Marriage:
 Marriage of a man to his father’s brother’s daughter or of
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a woman to her father’s brother’s son
Matrilateral Cross-Cousin Marriage:
Marriage of a woman to her father’s sister’s son or of a
man to his mother’s brother’s daughter
Patrilateral Cross-cousin Marriage:
Marriage of a man to his father’s sister’s daughter
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Parallel and cross cousins...
The Levirate and the Sororate…
 Levirate
 Widow marries the brother of the dead husband
 Provides social security for the widow
 Preserves previously established relationships
 Sororate
 Widower marries the sister of the dead wife
 Preserves previously established relationships
What do these practices do?
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Marriage Exchanges
 Marriages can be
formalized with
some sort of
economic
exchange
 Bride-price
or
bride wealth
 Bride service
 Dowry
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Divorce
 Variability in difficulty
 Variability in reasons
 Sensible reaction to
marriages that do not
work
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UPCOMING CHAPTER
Family and Household