Ego is Related to Which Kind of Kin Through Marriage? A Guide to Kinship Terminology

Kinship is the term used to describe the relationships between people who are related by blood, marriage, or adoption. Kinship terminology is the system of names and labels that people use to refer to their kin. Different cultures have different ways of classifying and naming their kin, depending on their social and historical context. In this article, we will explore some of the common types of kinship terminology and how they relate to the concept of ego.

What is Ego?

Ego is a term used in anthropology and sociology to refer to the individual whose kinship relationships are being described. Ego is usually the starting point for tracing genealogical ties and identifying kin groups. For example, if you are describing your family tree, you are the ego. If you are describing your spouse’s family tree, your spouse is the ego.

Ego can be related to different kinds of kin through marriage, depending on the type of kinship terminology used. Some kinship terminologies distinguish between relatives by blood and relatives by marriage, while others do not. Some kinship terminologies also distinguish between relatives of the same sex and relatives of the opposite sex, or between relatives of the same generation and relatives of different generations.

Affinal Kin

Affinal kin are relatives that you acquire by marrying into a family, such as your spouse, in-laws, and other members of your spouse’s family. Affinal kin are also sometimes called relatives by marriage or by alliance. Affinal kin are contrasted with consanguineal kin, who are relatives by blood or by descent.

In some cultures, affinal kin are treated as if they were consanguineal kin, and given the same terms of address and reference as blood relatives. For example, in many Native American cultures, such as the Iroquois, a man calls his wife’s brother by the same term as his own brother, and a woman calls her husband’s sister by the same term as her own sister. This is an example of a classificatory system of kinship terminology, where some collateral kin (relatives not in ego’s direct line of descent) are placed in the same category as lineal kin (relatives in ego’s direct line of descent).

In other cultures, affinal kin are distinguished from consanguineal kin, and given different terms of address and reference. For example, in many European cultures, a man calls his wife’s brother by a different term than his own brother, and a woman calls her husband’s sister by a different term than her own sister. This is an example of a descriptive system of kinship terminology, where lineal and collateral kin are separated.

Cross-Cousins and Parallel Cousins

Another way that ego can be related to different kinds of kin through marriage is through the distinction between cross-cousins and parallel cousins. Cross-cousins are the children of ego’s parents’ siblings of the opposite sex, such as the children of a father’s sister or a mother’s brother. Parallel cousins are the children of ego’s parents’ siblings of the same sex, such as the children of a father’s brother or a mother’s sister.

In some cultures, cross-cousins are considered potential marriage partners for ego, while parallel cousins are considered taboo. This is because cross-cousins do not belong to the same lineage or clan as ego, while parallel cousins do. For example, in many societies that practice patrilineal descent (where descent is traced through the father’s line), a man can marry his father’s sister’s daughter (his cross-cousin), but not his father’s brother’s daughter (his parallel cousin). This is an example of an exogamous system of marriage, where marriage outside one’s own group is preferred.

In other cultures, cross-cousins and parallel cousins are treated equally or indifferently for marriage purposes. This is because both types of cousins belong to different lineages or clans than ego. For example, in many societies that practice bilateral descent (where descent is traced through both parents’ lines), a person can marry any cousin regardless of their sex or parentage. This is an example of an endogamous system of marriage, where marriage within one’s own group is preferred.

Conclusion

Kinship terminology is a complex and fascinating topic that reflects the diversity and richness of human cultures and societies. By understanding how different cultures classify and name their kin, we can learn more about their values, beliefs, and practices. Ego is related to different kinds of kin through marriage depending on the type of kinship terminology used. Some common types of kinship terminology are classificatory vs descriptive, affinal vs consanguineal, and cross-cousin vs parallel cousin.

Doms Desk

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