Exam 10: Kinship, Family, and Marriage

The practice of exchanging a gift from the groom and his family to the bride's family in order to formalize and legalize the marriage is called:

Anthropologists argue that kinship is one of several ways in which individuals form groups. Name three other ways in which humans form groups and provide some concrete examples of each. Does kinship influence how these other groups are formed? Why or why not?

How families are conceptualized and formed varies across cultural groups. Define and describe the ways in which a family of orientation and a family of procreation differ. How does the concept of a nuclear family fit into these two concepts of family? Why is the concept of a nuclear family more common in the United States and other Western industrialized cultures and societies? What are some examples of other concepts of family found in other cultures throughout the world? What may be some underlying factors that contribute to the diverse ways in which family is conceptualized and formed? How do you think the concept of family may change in the future, and why?

Which of the following builds kinship ties between two people who are not typically immediate biological kin?

In 2004, the American Anthropological Association (AAA)-the largest association of anthropologists in the United States-issued a statement regarding same-sex marriages and the Defense of Marriage Act passed by the U.S. Congress in 2004. What position did the AAA take on same-sex marriages and the act? What sort of research or evidence did the AAA use to substantiate its stance? In your opinion, why did the AAA take the position that it did, and what are the benefits and drawbacks of it taking this stance? Do you think that professional associations such as the AAA should make formal position statements regarding congressional acts? Why or why not?

The concept of kinship groups based chiefly on biological assumptions and the nuclear family consisting of solely a mother, a father, and their children is:

Which of the following is defined as a type of descent group that traces genealogical connections through generations by linking individuals to a founding ancestor?

First cousin marriages (between the children of two siblings) are legally prohibited:

Most people in the world practice which type of descent as their primary strategy to track kin group membership?

Which of the following is considered a general rule that forbids sexual relations with close relatives?

The form of reproductive technology that involves the creation of genetically identical copies of cells or whole organisms is called:

Marriage in various forms occurs all over the world. In the United States, we typically practice kindred exogamy. What is kindred exogamy and what are two examples of marriages that would violate its rules? How does exogamy generally differ from endogamy? Is endogamy officially or unofficially practiced in the United States? What are two examples of unofficial or implicit endogamy that may occur in a group of people? What are some benefits and drawbacks of exogamy and endogamy?