FAMILY, KINSHIP

AND MARRIAGE
Presented by Meghna Rana, Kesang Wangdi Bhutia, Shiari Jamatia and
Mingso Hang Subba
An introduction to family,
kinship and marriage
• Family, Kinship and Marriage are primary social institutions that make up
the most important part of the society, it’s very foundation. Each institution
present in the society, as proposed by the functionalist perspective,
performs its own specific function. Therefore, ensuring social stability and
order in the world. In a metaphorical sense, the society is akin to the
human body. The different social institutions can be compared to the
different organs present in one’s body and the society is the human body
as a whole. For the society to be able to function well, it’s different social
institutions need to be functioning well too. Similarly, for a human body to
be functioning well, all organs present in it need to be healthy. These social
institutions are interdependent and interrelated to each other. This idea is
further proven when we look closely at the institution of family. A family
comes into existence through marriage, another social institution. In this
context, family is dependent on marriage.
FAMILY
 FAMILY
• Family is one of the most important institutions in the society. Eliot and
Mernill state that family is “the biological social unit composed of husband,
wife and children”. It is the very first social setting that a child is first
exposed to and serves as the primary agent of socialization. It is an
institution that is universal, found in every corner of the world. All societies,
primitive and civilized, ancient and modern, have had some form of family
or the other.
DISTINCTIVE FEATURES OF FAMILY BY MAC IVER

• Universality
• Emotional basis
• Limited size
• Formative influence
• Nuclear position in the social structure
• Responsibility of the members
 PRIMARY AND SECONDARY
FEATURES OF FAMILY
PRIMARY SECONDARY

• Economic functions
• Satisfaction of sexual needs The family fulfills the economic need of its
members.
• Reproduction or procreation • Educational functions
The family provides the basis for a child’s
education as well.
• Production and rearing of the child • Religious functions
The family acts as a center for religious
training.
• Provision of home
• Recreational functions
At one point of time, recreation was largely
• Emotional needs family based.
 TYPES OF FAMILY
• On the basis of marriage family has been classified into three major types:
Polygamous or Polygynous family, Polyandrous family and Monogamous family.
• On the basis of residence family can be classified into three main categories:
Matrilocal family, Patrilocal family and family of changing residence.
• On the basis of ancestry or descent family can be classified into two main types:
Matrilineal family and Patrilineal family.
• On the basis of authority family can be divided into two main categories:
Matriarchal family in which the authority is exercised by a female figurehead and
Patriarchal family in which the authority is exercised by a male head.
• On the basis of size or structure family can be divided into two categories:
The nuclear or single unit family and the joint family.
• On the basis of the nature of relations between the family members, family can be
divided into two main types:
The Conjugal family and Consanguine family.
NUCLEAR AND JOINT FAMILY
• A nuclear family is a family unit • Joint family, also known as
that consists of parents and their extended family or joint
children that live in one common household, is a family structure
residence. Nuclear families where multiple generations or
typically center on a married relatives live together in the same
couple which may have any household. It is usually the son
number of children. who gets married and stays with
his children and wife, under the
same roof as his parents.
 STRUCTURAL CHANGES OF
FAMILY
• Change in economic functions
Family has converted from a unit that produces to a unit that consumes more. They
no longer work together for self sustenance but rather under bigger corporations
for their livelihood.
• Change in educational functions
The family traditionally played a very educational role. However, in the modern
world, this role has been overtaken by other educational organizations such as
schools, universities, nurseries, creches, etc.
• Change in recreational functions
In the modern world, entertainment can be achieved through many modes other
than just through the family.
 REASONS BEHIND THESE CHANGES
• Industrialization
Industrialization led to urbanization and rural-to-urban migration. This lead to the
breakdown of joint families and a surge in the number of nuclear families. High
living cost is also one of the major factors behind the growth of nuclear families.
• Legislative measures:
Prohibition of early marriage and fixing the minimum age of marriage by the child
marriage Restraint Act, of 1929, and the Hindu Marriage Act, of 1955 have
lengthened the period of education. Even other legislations such as the Widow
Remarriage Act, of 1856, the Hindu Marriage Act, of 1955, and the Hindu
Succession Act, of 1956, all have modified inter-personal relations within the family,
the composition of the family, and the stability of the joint family.
• Influence of western values:
The western society, in contrast to India’s collectivist society, is individualistic in its
ideals. These ideals have slowly influenced India too, through social media. Values
relating to individualism, free life, rationalism, freedom of women, equal rights,
democracy, etc. have exerted great influence on the joint family system.
 CHARACTERISTICS OF JOINT FAMILY
• Shared residence
• Three or more generations
• Extended family members
• Shared financial resources
• Collective decision-making
• Shared household responsibilities
• Close relationships
• Tradition and cultural preservation
• Support system
 FACTORS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE BREAKDOWN OF JOINT FAMILY SYSTEM

• Education and career goals:

Pursuing higher education and career aspirations often lead to geographic mobility and independence.
• Changing values and modernization:
Shifts in societal values, emphasis on individualism, and modernization have eroded traditional joint
family values.
• Economic independence:
Increased economic opportunities and financial independence reduce the need for shared financial
resources.
• Small family size:
Declining family sizes and fewer siblings reduce the need for joint families.
• Changing social norms:
Acceptance of alternative family structures, such as single-parent households and nuclear families.
• Women's empowerment:
Increased education and economic opportunities for women have reduced their dependence on joint
families.
• Conflict and communication issues:
Unresolved conflicts and communication breakdowns can lead to joint family breakdown.
KINSHIP
 KINSHIP
• Abercrombie states that “the social relationships deriving from blood ties
(real and supposed) and marriage are collectively referred to as kinship”. It
refers to relationships within a community or family. These family ties bond
people together in a society and provide organization and structure for
relationships.
 TYPES OF KINSHIP
• Affinal kinship:
“The kind of bond which arises out of a socially or legally defined marital
relationship is called affinal kinship.” The relatives are called affinal kins. An
example of people that share this type of bond are the husband and wife. The kins
of this type of kinship do not have any blood ties and are brought together through
the union of marriage.
• Consanguineous kinship:
The relationship based on blood ties is called consanguineous kinship. The relatives
are referred to as consanguineous kins and include mother and daughter, father
and son, brother and sister, etc. These kins share a blood bond with each other.
 PRIMARY, SECODARY AND TERTIARY
KINSHIP
• Primary Kinship refers to direct and closest kin relationships, based on
blood or immediate family bonds. These are the people who are closely
connected to an individual and often live in the same household. Examples:
Parents. siblings, and spouses.
• Secondary Kinship includes the relatives of one's primary kin. These people
are not directly related to an individual but are still close family through
one of the primary kin members. Examples: Grandparents, grandchildren,
in-laws, uncle and aunts.
• Tertiary Kinship includes the relatives of one's secondary kin. These are
more distant relatives within the family network. Examples: Cousins, great-
uncle and aunts, and children of in-laws.
 RULE OF DESCENT
• “Descent” refers to the social recognition of a biological relationship that
exists between individuals. The rule of descent refers to a set of principles
by which an individual traces his descent. There are three basic rules of
descent: patrilineal descent, matrilineal descent and bilateral descent.

• Patrilineal descent: According to this rule of descent, the lineage is traced

through the father’s or the male’s line. The kins traced through this rule are
known as agnatic or patrilineal kin.
• Matrilineal descent: According to this rule of descent, the lineage of an
individual is traced through the mother or the female exclusively. The
descendants here are known as uterine or matrilineal kin. Ex: the Yako tribe
of Nigeria follows the matrilineal rule of descent.
• Bilateral descent: In this rule of descent, the lineage of an individual is
traced through both the lines.
 KINSHIP USAGES
• Kinship usages or the rules of kinship are very significant in understanding
kinship system as a whole. They provide guidelines for interaction among
persons in social groupings. It defines proper and acceptable relationships,
therefore acting as a regulator of social life.
• Rule of avoidance: In this kinship usage, two kins of the opposite sex are
meant to avoid each other. It states that men and women must maintain a
certain amount of modesty in dress, gait and gesture in the company of
their sexual counterparts. For example: the father-in-law should avoid the
daughter in law. The bride must avoid the mother-in-law’s brothers and the
husband must avoid the mother-in-law and also the other female relatives
of his wife. In the Yukafir tribe, the son-in-law is not supposed to see the
faces of his mother-in-law and father-in-law. And amongst the Veddas of
Ceylone, elder brothers and sisters are not supposed to live together and
even eat together.
• Joking relationships: “A joking relationship involves a particular combination
of friendliness and antagonism between individuals and groups in certain
social situations. In these situations one individual or group is allowed to
mock or ridicule the other without offense being taken.” For example: the
relationship between a grandchild and his or her grandparents. Amongst
the Oraons of Orissa and Baigas of Madhya Pradesh, joking relationship is
observed between the grandchild and their grandparents. Amongst the
crow Indians, such relationship may be observed between a man and his
wife’s sisters.
• Teknonymy: The term teknonymy is derived from the Greek words teknon
meaning child and anoma meaning name. According to this usage, a kin is
not referred to directly but through another. Example: in a traditional hindu
family, the wide doesn’t refer to her husband by his name but as so and
so’s father. In the Hopi tribe, a woman refers to her mother-in-law and so
and so’s grandmother.
• Avunculate: In this rule, a man has a special relationship with his sister’s
children. The relationship may be formal or informal and is common in
matrilineal societies, especially in western and southern Africa.
• Amitate: This kinship usage assigns a special role to the father’s sister. Her
role is similar to that of the maternal uncle in avunculate. The children
show special respect to the father’s sister and are sometimes even brought
up in her home and in some cases may even inherit her property. This
kinship usage is prevalent among the Kongas of Polynesia and the Thodas
of Nilgiri.
• Couvade: This kinship usage involves only the husband and the wife. It is a
custom in some cultures where the father takes on the role of the birthing
parent after the child is born. This can involve a variety of practices such as
fasting, purification, following taboos, resting, etc. This kinship usage is
practiced amongst the Thodas and Khasis of India and the Karibs of South
Africa.
MARRIAGE
 MARRIAGE
• Robert H Lawie states that “marriage is a relatively permanent bond
between permissible mates”. It is one of the universal social institutions.
The institution of marriage is closely related to the institution of family. The
two institutions are complementary to each other.
 FUNCTIONS OF MARRIAGE
• The most important function of marriage is the control of sexual behaviour
of people in a society. Without marriage, there would be widespread sexual
promiscuity, and no control over the most basic human instinct of
satisfaction of sexual desires.
• A marriage legalizes a sexual relationship existing between two adults of
opposite sex. In doing so, it recognizes certain legal rights that are given to
the married individuals.
• A marriage legitimizes the sexual relationship between individuals. This
legitimacy is both religious and social in nature. A religious or civil
ceremony ensures religious acceptance, and social witnessing of a
marriage results in social acceptance and legitimacy.
• Marriage is necessary for setting up a family, with all legal rights and
obligations. A family may also be established outside or without a
marriage, but it does not entail any legal rights to any of the family
members.
• Marriage is necessary for procreation and having children with legal rights.
• Marriage does division of labour on the basis of sex and age, however, the
traditional roles and bases for division of labour have changed dramatically
over the last few decades.
• Marriage results in sharing and solving emotional, psychological, economic
and other problems, thus it gives more balance to individuals lives. Many
studies have revealed that married people are healthier, relaxed and even
live longer than unmarried people.
• Since in most countries marriage is a social contract, it not only brings two
individuals together, it also binds families, thus becoming an important
factor of social solidarity.
 TYPES OF MARRIAGE
• Monogamy

Monogamy is a form of marriage where only one spouse exists one

husband and one wife. As a form of marriage, monogamy is found in
almost all countries across the world and is also the most accepted form of
marriage. Many sociologists consider it the most enduring (long lasting)
form of marriage, which ensures that children get maximum attention and
care by the parents. Even aged parents are better looked after under this
system of marriage.
• Polygamy

Polygamy refers to a form of marriage, where an individual has more than

one spouse, i.e., either more than one husband or more than one wife.
Polygamy is divided into two types: polygyny and polyandry.

• Polygyny is the form of marriage in which a man marries more than one
woman. It is of two types:

Sororal polygyny: Sororal polygyny is a form of marriage in which the wives

are invariably the sisters. It is often called “sororate”, derived from the latin
word soror meaning sisters. When sisters are simultaneously or potentially
the wives of the same man, the practice is known as sororate. It is usually
observed among tribes that have to pay a high bride price.

Non sororal polygyny: It is a form of marriage in which the wives have no

relation as sisters.
 CAUSES OF POLYGYNY
• Women as badges of distinction: Among some tribals, a man's social status is often
measured in terms of the number of wives that he has. Greater the number of
women greater is the prestige. Early Kings used to marry more women for this
reason also.
• Childlessness of the first wife: Barrenness on the part of the first wife is also the
cause of polygyny. The childless Wife herself may insist on the husband to go for
the second marriage.
• Constancy of sex urge in man: Unlike women, men are susceptible to sexual
stimulation throughout the year. Polygyny provides him opportunity to enjoy sex life
throughout the year.
• Taste for variety: Men go after several women for they have a taste for variety.
• Enforced celibacy: Sex relations with a woman during her menstrual, pregnancy and
lactation periods are tabooed. This enforced celibacy is a case in favour of polygyny.
• Captured women in wars and fights are normally taken and enjoyed by the
victorious men as their additional wives.
• Earlier ageing of the female. Among some tribes men marry more women because,
they believe that ageing is faster in women.
• Polyandry

Polyandry is a type of marriage in which one woman marries more than one
man. It is a system where a single woman has many husbands: This type of
marriage exists among some primitive tribes such as the Todas of Malabar
Hills and in countries such as Tibet. Polyandry is further divided into two
categories:

Non-Fraternal Polyandry: Non-fraternal polyandry takes place when one

woman marries more than one man, who are in no way related to each
other.

Fraternal Polyandry: Fraternal polyandry takes place when one woman

marries more than one man, related by blood, like brothers. This practice is
also known as alelphic polyandry.
 CAUSES OF POLYANDRY
• Scarcity of women
• The desire to keep property intact (Tibetans practice polyandry for this
reason)
• Heavy bride price
• Poverty and the scarcity of men
• Practise of female infanticide
• Sex-parity/ Bias towards men
• Exogamy

Exogamy is almost the opposite of endogamy. Exogamy is a rule of marriage in

which an individual has to marry outside his own group. It prohibits marrying within
the group. The rule of exogamy insists that the so-called blood relatives shall
neither have marital connections nor sexual contact among themselves. In
Australia, among some people, a son may marry his father's wife if she is not his
direct mother. Similarly, marriage of cousins is allowed among Muslims.
• FORMS OF EXOGAMY IN INDIA

Gotra exogamy: The Hindu practice of one marrying outside one's own 'gotra' is
gotra exogamy.
Pravara exogamy: Those who belong to the same pravara (those who utter the
name of a common saint at religious functions) cannot marry among themselves.
Village exogamy: Many Indian tribes such as the Naga and Garo have the practice
of marrying outside their village.
Pinda exogamy: Those who belong to the same 'Pinda’ or those that have a
common ancestor cannot marry within themselves.
 CAUSES OF EXOGAMY
• The desire on the part of a few to show that they are distinct from others
must have encouraged exogamy.
• Some people feel that they become very cheap and insignificant if they
marry within the known circle of relatives and friends. Hence, they want to
go out of the group to select their life-partners.
• The practice of female infanticide must have compelled a few tribals to go
out of the tribe to find out mates for themselves. Due to the shortage of
girls they are forced to do this. Some kidnap girls belonging to other
groups.
• The belief that close in-breeding would affect the biological quality of the
offsprings, has also added to the practice of exogamy.
• Endogamy
Endogamy is the practice or marrying within one’s group. The group may be a caste,
class, tribe or religion. Example: Royal families in Europe have a long and storied
history of practicing endogamy, which involves marrying within their own bloodline.
This practice was born out of a desire to preserve power and wealth within the family
and avoid alliances that could threaten their position.

• Advantages of endogamy
i) It helps to preserve cultural traditions and practices. By marrying within one’s own
social or ethnic group, individuals can maintain their cultural identity and pass on their
customs and beliefs to future generations.

ii) Serves as a means to maintain social status and power within a community. In some
societies, marrying someone from a different social class or background can result in
ostracism or loss of status.

iii) It strengthens familial bonds and relationships. When individuals marry someone
from the same community or family background, they often share similar values and
experiences, leading to stronger emotional connections between spouses and
extended family members.
• The Disadvantages of Endogamy

i) One of the primary drawbacks of endogamy is that it can lead to limited genetic
diversity within a community. Over time, this can result in an increased risk of
inherited health issues and genetic disorders.

ii) Another disadvantage is that it reinforces social inequality by limiting

opportunities for individuals to marry outside their own social or cultural group. This
can perpetuate existing inequalities and prevent individuals from achieving upward
mobility or pursuing relationships based on mutual love and respect rather than
social status.
 CONCLUSION
• Family, kinship and marriage are fundamental social institutions in the society. They are
the building blocks of the society, the foundation. They play a central role in shaping
human societies. The society builds itself up around these three social institutions.
They are interconnected systems that govern relationships, social organization and
identity. Family serves as the primary unit for emotional support, socialization, and
economic cooperation, while kinship networks extend these relationships, creating
broader social bonds and obligations. Marriage, as a socially and often legally
recognized union, underpins the formation of families and reflects cultural norms and
values. While the forms and practices of family, kinship, and marriage vary widely
across cultures and over time, they collectively provide a structure for continuity,
cooperation, and cultural transmission. Modern societies face challenges such as
changing family structures, evolving gender roles, and shifting attitudes toward
marriage. However, the adaptability of these institutions demonstrates their resilience
and ongoing relevance. In essence, family, kinship, and marriage remain critical to
fostering community, ensuring societal stability, and enriching individual lives, even as
they continue to evolve in response to changing social dynamics.
 REFERANCE
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• Robin Fox’s kinship and marriage
THANK YOU