Marriage & Kinship Arrangements

1. Marriage & Kinship Arrangements Essential Questions: What is marriage? What are the origins of marriage and how has it changed?

2. Warm-Up: On a half-sheet of paper respond to the following prompt: What do you think of when you hear the word “wedding?”

3. Marriage • Wedding ceremonies differ between cultures.

4. Marriage • However the ceremony takes place, a wedding signifies something relatively universal— • Man & Woman Husband & Wife • A family of procreation has been formed, and its offspring can inherit name and property

5. How old is the institution of marriage? • Most archaeological evidence suggests the institution it is about 4,350 years old. • Though, for thousands of years before, anthropologists think groups living together as “clans” goes back much further. • As society became more agrarian, more stable arrangements were needed—remember, families of procreation…

6. How old is the institution of marriage? • The first record of marriage ceremonies—one man uniting with one woman—dates from about 2,350 B.C.E. in Mesopotamia. • The practice moved throughout the Mediterranean—ancient Greeks, Hebrews, and Romans.

7. Why marriage? • Marriage for love was not the purpose of marriage. • Its primary purpose was for the producing of biological heirs, and solidifying of family power or prestige

8. Why marriage? • In ancient Greece, a father would hand his daughter over to the groom and say, “I pledge my daughter for the purpose of producing legitimate offspring.” • The bride became the husband’s property.

9. What about religion in marriage? • With the spread of the Roman Catholic church, marriage became a religious as well as legal institution. • Religion “sanctified” the institution. • Judaism, Christianity, and Islam all have doctrine regarding marriage, roles, infidelity, etc.

10. Love…and marriage? • Marriage for love (or love exclusively) is a relatively recent concept. • While romantic marriage can be seen as far back as the middle ages, such a notion was only available for those well-off enough. • Until the late 19th century, most marriage (to varying degrees) was for survival, power, economics, etc.

11. Types of Marriages • Monogamy—One man and one woman • The most widely practiced form in the world • The only form legally accepted in the U.S. (and most of the “Western” world) Click on me to laugh Click on me think

12. Types of Marriage • Serial monogamy—several partners over time, but married to one at a time • ZsaZsa Gabor-9 times • Larry King—8 times • Liz Taylor—7 times • Richard Pryor-7 times • Rush Limbaugh—4 times • Pamela Anderson-4 times • Clark Gable-5 times

13. Types of Marriage • Polygamy—marriage of a male or female to more than one person at a time—2 forms

14. Types of Polygamy • Polygyny—One man married to 2+ wives at the same time • Old Testament—King Solomon had 700 wives and 300 concubines • A sign of high social status in some cultures • Still legal in parts of Africa, India, and the Middle East • Not widely practiced today—CLDS (Mormons)

15. Types of Polygamy • Polyandry—One woman married to 2+ men at the same time • Very rare—only in remote Tibet, Polynesia, and India • In rare cases, several brothers marry the same wife

16. Marriage Norms • Every society has marriage norms • Exogamy-The mate selection norms that require individuals to marry outsideof their kind or group • Incest taboos forbid marriage between relatives • Generally the norm—except historical cases (ancient Egyptian and European royalty)

17. Endogamy in Europe

18. Marriage Norms • Endogamy-The mate selection norms that require individuals to marry withinof their kind or group (e.g. race, ethnicity, heritage, social class)

19. Marriage Norms • Norms usually encourage marriage within a group • Homogamy-People tend to marry those within similar social classifications • Economic class, divorced, etc. • Heterogamy-People choosing a spouse dissimilar in important characteristics • Crossing traditions, beliefs, age, race, etc. • Becoming more common in the U.S. and other Western societies

20. Marriage Norms Norms usually encourage marriage within a group Homogamy: people tend to marry those with similar characteristics -Someone divorced, wealthy, etc. will tend to marry someone like them

21. Marriage Norms • Heterogamy-People choosing a spouse dissimilar in important characteristics • Crossing traditions, beliefs, age, race, etc. • Becoming more common in the U.S. and other Western societies

22. Marriage: The Perfect Spouse? • Imagine you work for a newspaper advice column and you opened this letter… Dear Gabby, I am looking for the perfect spouse. I am __ years old and still not married. I belong to two internet dating sites and have attended over 200 church and community social events. I have proposed marriage several times, but they all said no. I realize that some of my views are old-fashioned, but there must be many people around who share my views. My demand for a spouse are as follows: 1. Virgin 2. Does not drink alcohol, smoke, or take drugs 3. Makes all food from scratch 4. I must approve all expenses over $25 5. Must be willing to be a stay-at-home parent to our children 6. I must approve all friends 7. I make all final decisions for the household I know that my perfect mate is out there somewhere. Will you please help me find my one true love!? Pleading in Peoria • How would you respond to this letter? What advice would you give this person?