Cultural Practices in Marriage

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Bridewealth

Back

Payments made to the bride’s family by the groom’s family before marriage.

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Clan

Back

A group of people who have a general notion of common descent not attached to a specific biological ancestor.

Front

Descent groups

Back

Relationships that provide members with a sense of identity and social support based on ties of shared ancestry.

Front

Dowry

Back

Payments made to the groom’s family by the bride’s family before marriage.

Front

Endogamy

Back

Expectations that individuals must marry within a particular group.

Front

Exogamy

Back

Expectations that individuals must marry outside a particular group.

Front

Kinship

Back

Culturally recognized ties between family members, social statuses, and expected behaviors.

Front

Lineage

Back

Describes any form of descent from a common ancestor.

Front

Matrilineal descent

Back

A kinship group created through the maternal line (mothers and their children).

Front

Polygamous

Back

Families based on plural marriages with multiple wives or, in rarer cases, multiple husbands.