Comparative Marriage and Family – Fall 2009
Study List for Exam 1 (possible exam questions)
Class material:
1. How far back in prehistory did families develop? Describe the evidence and
explain what it shows for family life for our different kinds of ancestors.
2. Other primates do not have families like humans, but they do live in social
groups and have regular patterns of reproducing and rearing young. Compare
patterns for gibbons, orangutans, gorillas, chimpanzees, and bonobos.
3. There are some key general differences between how matrilineal and patrilineal
societies organize family life. Describe these difference in general for:
-- family relationships
(HU-WI MO-SO, MO-DA, FA-SO, FA-DA, BR-SI, SI-SI, BR-BR, MOBR-SICH)
-- status of women and men (DA vs incoming DA-in-law, SO vs incoming SO-inlaw)
-- residence patterns (matrilocal, patrilocal, avunculocal) Describe. Which ones
are found with each lineage type?
-- rights over children/emphasis on having children/legitimacy of children
-- how marriage arrangements are made
-- forms of marriage (polygyny/polyandry/monogamy)
-- ease of divorce/effects of divorce for HU and WI/ease of remarriage
-- value on virginity
-- attitudes toward extra-marital affairs/fidelity
4. We discussed five approaches to explaining the incest taboo in class. Briefly
discuss each explanation, pointing out its strengths and weaknesses.
5. Rules of exogamy are different from incest taboos. Explain what each involves.
Why might cultures have rules of exogamy? Why do (or did) some cultures,
specifically Arabs and ancient Egyptians, have rules of endogamy?
6. The Tiwi have some ideas about marriage that differ from Western customs.
Describe and explain the strategy Tiwi men use to gain prestige through
marriage.
7. Describe a Tiwi woman's life course. To whom is she married, when, and why?
How does her influence over her own life change as she grows older?
8. Describe general family organization for each of the three major modes of
production (H&G, food production, industrial).
9. Wealth often flows at the time of weddings (even in America). Describe the two
major forms of wealth transactions and explain the personal and family
motivations that may be involved. Why are there different forms of wealth
transactions? What are the long-term effects? What do people do with the wealth
that flows? Describe what happens if the society has little wealth in the form of
property?
13. The Ax Fight: What were the causes of this fight (both underlying and
immediate)? What were the roles of men and women just before, during, and just
after the fight? How did people decide how to align themselves? What was the
impact of the fight on the village?
14. From the Dadi's Family film: What are the advantages and disadvantages of
remaining in the family specifically for each of the three sons? Describe the
position of each daughter-in- law specifically and the daughters in general. How
do you think the family had changed ten years after the film was made? What
will happen when Dadi dies?
Readings:
1. From “What’s Love Got to Do with It?” What does Small suggest bonobos do to
bond socially? Bonobos seem relatively egalitarian. Why might that be?
2. From Yanomamo article: Yanomamo men are polygynous. Why? Whom do they
marry? Who decides who will marry whom? Whom do men compete with for
wives? What kinds of marriages promote solidarity in a village?
3. From “Adopt a Daughter-in-Law:” Describe the two forms of Chinese marriages:
major and minor. What are the advantages and disadvantages of each? What light
does Wolf think these two forms shed on the incest taboo?
4. From “Go Ahead Kiss your Cousin:” According to the author is having children
with a cousin dangerous? What evidence does he give to support his point.
5. From the Tiwi article: Describe the Tiwi rules about naming. Why are they
important? The levirate, sororal polygyny and cross-cousin marriage are common
among the Tiwi. What are these and why do the Tiwi engage in them?
6. From “Status, Property and the Value of Virginity:” In some cultures virginity is
highly valued. What are some possible reasons some cultures value it and others
do not? Does the story told in Honor the Bride support or refute the analysis of
Schlegel as presented in “Status, Property, and the Value of Virginity”? Describe
the incidents or attitudes that support your position.
7. The Historical Iroquois:
First look at the questions the book poses, such as: What was the relationship
between marriage and the practice of horticulture among the Iroquois? What was
the connection between farming, marriage, and postmarital residence practice in this
society, and how did this connection influence the roles and relationships of
spouses?
Also answer:
b. What was the relationship between marriage and postmarital residence and the
practice of horticulture (include land tenure) among the Iroquois? How did this
influence the relationship of spouses?
c. Who lived in a long house? Who contributed more and whose contributions were
more valuable? Who held the position of matron? Why was she important?
d. How were clans organized? Why was membership important?
e. Describe marriage among the Iroquois, including engagement ceremony, position
of in-marrying spouse, both in his own and his wife’s lineage and longhouse.
f. Describe divorce among the Iroquois.
8. The Traditional Chinese:
First look at the questions the book poses, such as: How did the Chinese practice
of patrilineal kinship affect the meaning of marriage? How did the postmarital
residence practice shape the relationship of husbands and wives, as well as their
differing life experiences?
Also answer:
a. Chinese society was (is) patriarchal. How did that affect marriages?
b. The Chinese practice plow agriculture. What affect does this have on their family
arrangements and the meaning of marriage? (Be sure to think about domestic and
public spheres of activity.)
c. Why was (is) it so important to have a son in Chinese families? What did
traditional families do to insure having male heirs?
d. What constituted a suitable bride?
e. What kind of wealth flowed at marriage?
f. Describe kinship for women. How did that differ from kinship for men?
g. Why did Chinese husbands have so much power over their wives? What kind of
strategy did wives employ to gain influence in the family?
h. Describe Chinese polygyny. How did second wives differ from first wives?
j. Why did women (even dead ones) have to get married? Why did families
have to have sons?