Cultural Practices in Marriage

Descent groups

• Relationships based on shared cultural practices and traditions.

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

• Relationships formed through economic transactions and trade.

• Relationships that are primarily based on geographical proximity.

Lineage

• A term that refers to a group of people living in the same area.

• Describes any form of descent from a common ancestor.

• A scientific method for classifying organisms.

• A type of family tree that shows only direct descendants.

Exogamy

• Expectations that individuals must marry outside a particular group.

• A practice of marrying within a specific group.

• A term for the prohibition of marriage between certain groups.

• A cultural norm that encourages multiple marriages.

Matrilineal descent

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

• A kinship group created through the paternal line (fathers and their children).

• A system where inheritance is passed down through both parents equally.

• A social structure where lineage is determined by the oldest male in the family.

Polygamous

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

• Families consisting of a single marriage between one man and one woman.

• Families where individuals are free to choose their partners without any formal marriage.

• Families that are based on communal living without any marital ties.

Endogamy

• Expectations that individuals must marry within a particular group.

• The practice of marrying outside one's social group.

• A form of marriage that is based on love and personal choice.

• The legal union of two individuals regardless of their backgrounds.

Kinship

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

• A legal contract between individuals regarding property.

• A type of social gathering for family members.

• A method of communication between different cultures.

Bridewealth

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

• A type of dowry given by the bride’s family to the groom.

• A ceremonial gift exchanged during the wedding ceremony.

• A financial contribution to the couple's future home.

Dowry

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

• A gift given by the groom to the bride's family.

• A loan taken by the bride's family for the wedding expenses.

• A type of wedding ceremony held in honor of the bride.

Clan

• A group of people who share a common ancestry or lineage.

• A social group based on shared interests or activities.

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

• A political organization that governs a specific territory.