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Bilateral descent

Bilateral descent
For other uses, see Bilateral (disambiguation).
The Himba of Namibia live under a tribal structure based on bilateral descent.

Bilateral descent is a system of family lineage in which the relatives on the mother's side and father's side are equally important for emotional ties or for transfer of property or wealth. It is a family arrangement where descent and inheritance are passed equally through both parents.[1] Families who use this system trace descent through both parents simultaneously and recognize multiple ancestors, but unlike with cognatic descent it is not used to form descent groups.[2]

While bilateral descent is increasingly the norm in Western culture, traditionally it is only found among relatively few groups in West Africa, India, Australia, Melanesia and Polynesia. Anthropologists believe that a tribal structure based on bilateral descent helps members live in extreme environments because it allows individuals to rely on two sets of families dispersed over a wide area.[3]

Under bilateral descent, every tribe member belongs to two clans, one through the father (a patriclan) and another through the mother (a matriclan). For example, among the Himba, clans are led by the eldest male in the clan. Sons live with their father's clan and when daughters marry they go to live with the clan of their husband. However inheritance of wealth does not follow the patriclan but is determined by the matriclan i.e. a son does not inherit his father's cattle but his maternal uncle's instead.[3]

Javanese people, the largest ethnic group in Indonesia, also adopt a bilateral kinship system .[4][5]

References

  1. ^ Shepard, Jon; Robert W. Greene (2003). Sociology and You. Ohio: Glencoe McGraw-Hill. pp. A–22. ISBN 0078285763. http://www.glencoe.com/catalog/index.php/program?c=1675&s=21309&p=4213&parent=4526. 
  2. ^ Stone, Linda (2006). Kinship and Gender: An Introduction. Boulder, Colorado: Westview Press. pp. 168–169. ISBN 9780813343020. 
  3. ^ a b Ezzell, Carol (June 2001). "The Himba and the Dam". Scientific American 284 (6): 80–90. doi:10.1038/scientificamerican0601-80. PMID 11396346. http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?chanID=sa006&articleID=0005596A-DE68-1C6F-84A9809EC588EF21. 
  4. ^ Ward, Kathryn B. (1990). Women workers and global restructuring. Cornell University Press. pp. 46. ISBN 087546162X, 9780875461625. http://books.google.com.my/books?id=etI2NQhMSNgC. 
  5. ^ Emmerson, Donald K. (1999). Indonesia beyond Suharto: polity, economy, society, transition. M.E. Sharpe. pp. 242. ISBN 1563248905, 9781563248900. http://books.google.com.my/books?id=JQjzLRYXJZQC. 

See also

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Immediate family
Spouse (Husband · Wife) · Parent (Father · Mother) · Child (Son · Daughter) · Sibling
Extended family
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Kinship
Lineage
Relationships

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • bilateral descent — noun a) descent traced from all biological descendants, regardless of sex and side of the family Only by bilateral descent is a boy related to his mothers grandfather. b) descent traced from an ancestor, regardless of sex and side of the family… …   Wiktionary

  • bilateral descent — noun line of descent traced through both the maternal and paternal sides of the family • Hypernyms: ↑descent, ↑line of descent, ↑lineage, ↑filiation …   Useful english dictionary

  • bilateral descent — See descent groups …   Dictionary of sociology

  • descent group — These are kin groups who are lineal descendants of a common ancestor. Unilineal descent is either matrilineal (if traced through the mother) or patrilineal (traced through the father s line). Bilateral descent can be traced through either line.… …   Dictionary of sociology

  • descent groups — These are kin groups who are lineal descendants of a common ancestor. Unilineal descent is either matrilineal (if traced through the mother) or patrilineal (traced through the father s line). Bilateral descent can be traced through either line.… …   Dictionary of sociology

  • descent — /di sent /, n. 1. the act, process, or fact of descending. 2. a downward inclination or slope. 3. a passage or stairway leading down. 4. derivation from an ancestor; lineage; extraction. 5. any passing from higher to lower in degree or state;… …   Universalium

  • bilateral — /baɪˈlætrəl / (say buy latruhl) adjective 1. relating to, involving, or affecting two sides or parties. 2. Law, etc. (of a contract) binding the parties to reciprocal obligations. 3. Botany, Zoology relating to both sides: bilateral symmetry. 4.… …  

  • line of descent — noun 1. the kinship relation between an individual and the individual s progenitors • Syn: ↑descent, ↑lineage, ↑filiation • Derivationally related forms: ↑filiate (for: ↑filiation), ↑descend …   Useful english dictionary

  • БИЛАТЕРАЛЬНОЕ ПРОИСХОЖДЕНИЕ — (bilateral descent) (Антропология) термин, описывающий систему, в которой узы родства признаются по линии обоих родителей …   Большой толковый социологический словарь

  • Kinship — For other uses, see Kinship (disambiguation). Relationships …   Wikipedia

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