Questions:
1) Throughout the world societies view marriage and kinship systems from different vantage points. Depending on their government, religion, social interactions, as well as economic circumstances, these factors all play essential roles in how they define marriage and family. Universally, society puts in place rules that govern sexual access between males and females (Nanda, Warms, 2017, p.221). As a result, these rules help to organize labor, distribute individual rights, administer social positions between generations, and relegate how these relationships interact with each other. Often it is because of these external sources that are responsible for determining what type of marriage or family system is deemed acceptable among a
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For instance, bride service is a type of marriage found in foraging societies. The husband is forced to work for his wife’s family for an expected amount of time in exchange for his right to marry (Nanda, Warms, 2017, p. 228). Another type of marriage is known as bridewealth, where goods are passed back and forth between the groom’s kin and the bride’s kin to solidify the marriage (Nanda, Warms, 2017, p. 228). Although, Dowry is not as popular as bridewealth, there is still an exchange of goods between families (Nanda, Warms, 2017, p.228). Dowry is widely practiced in India and represents a kind of compensation to the groom’s family for the “economic burden” of taking care of his wife (Nanda, Warms, 2017, p. 228). These three examples of marriage correlate with how the economy and financial security play major roles behind the customs that surround the …show more content…
Sex, for example, refers to the biology of being a male or female (Nanda, Warms, 2017, p.247). On a cellular level there is a definite difference in these two humans, not to mention, structurally as well, a female is built completely different than a man. On average, a female is smaller than a male with a different pelvic structure. Cellular wise, a female DNA sequence is different than a male along with the obvious hormone contrast. So, sex, signifies chemical and structural differences in being a male or female. However, gender refers to the social, cultural, and psychological design that can predetermine the role a person is going to play within their society (Nanda, Warms, 2017, p. 247). This is where anthropology can intercede on behalf of the people who are often forced into these roles even if they do not fit. Culture does relegate the differences between a male and female as well what rules they must adhere to (Nanda, Warms, 2017, p.247). For instance, an industrialized capitalist society, the economy might depend on a male’s participation more, since they typically have a stronger stature. Therefore, as a result, a female might look weaker or not as important, since, their participation in that type of society is not usually seen within its profit margin. These types of gender roles usually reflect the class system and how individuals rate
Sex and gender have commonly been thought to be interchangeable words that mean the same thing, but this could not be further from the truth. The reason that they are different words is that they do not define nor represent the same thing. Where sex deals with the biological aspect of individuals, like chromosomes, hormones, and sex organs, gender deals with the behavioral characteristics of a person and how they are perceived culturally. (Giraudo 2017) Sex is inherent while gender is learned from society, culture, and social interactions. Gender identity is how a person thinks of themselves, and gender expression is how they choose to represent themselves through clothes, behavior, and interactions. The commonly held belief that society would
“Children have never been very good at listening to their elders, but they have never failed to imitate them.” – James Baldwin
“Gender” refers to the cultural construction of whether one is female, male, or something else (Kottak 2013: 209). Typically, based on your gender, you are culturally required to follow a particular gender norm, or gender role. Gender roles are the tasks and activities a culture assigns to the sexes (Kottak 213: 209). The tasks and activities assigned are based upon strongly, seized concepts about male and female characteristics, or gender stereotypes. Gender stereotypes…are oversimplified but strongly upheld ideas about bout the characteristics of males and females (Kottak 2013: 209).
Monogamy is a cultural norm that dominates many modern societies, and when individuals engage in monogamous relationships, they are unconsciously conforming to historical and cultural legacies of what is perceived as love that predate their illusions of personal agency. Although anthropological records indicate that 85% of human societies have tended towards polygamy (Henrich, Boyd and Richerson 2012), the modern culture of monogamy has rapidly risen and spread in the past millennium (Senthilingam 2016). This demonstrates how an individual’s conception of a heterosexual relationship as normatively monogamous has been constructed by social forces. In addition, social forces in the form of state legislation also perpetuate and reinforce an individual’s conception of what a romantic relationship should entail. Monogamous heterosexual marriage remains to be the only form of marriage with legal recognition in many countries. An individual’s belief that a romantic relationship should culminate in marriage is hence not formed through independent thought, but rather through what is considered normative by law. Essentially, “marriage is not an instinct but an institution.” (Berger 1963, 88) because it is enabled and promoted by virtue of the law. In addition, many couples believe in
Every society forms different cultures and social norms how people behave and constructs stereotypes and expectations of people based on how they were seen throughout history and cultural backgrounds. Once set, norms are unlikely to be changed over time. This social construction decides which group will have benefits and privileges and which won’t. One example of these social constructed norms is gender. Gender, regardless of how different cultures define it, is generally and mostly made up of masculinity, femininity.
The word gender refers to a general classification of human beings into male and female with socially and culturally constructed characteristics, behaviors, attributes and roles preconceived and labelled as appropriate for each class. The society and culture today have placed human beings in a box which to a large extent dictates how we act in the world.
The reading also discussed the difference between sex and gender. While sex is biological, gender is socio-cultural, meaning it is a social construct. These constructs create stereotypes enforced by the culture. Gender roles are formed and become the "social roles that a person is expected to fulfill based upon his
Marriage practices vary across cultures. Every culture has its own way of conducting marriage according to their traditions and customs. Most cultures share common customs and practices, while some cultures have unique practices. Marriage refers to a social union agreed upon by the couples to unit as spouses. The union of couples implies sexual relations, permanence in union, and procreation. This research paper focuses on comparing marriage practices in American and Indian culture. There is significant difference between the two cultures in marriage practices.
Gender is not about the biological differences between men and women but rather the behavioral, cultural and psychological traits typically associated with one sex. Gender is socially constructed meaning it 's culturally specific, it 's learned and shared through gender socialization. What it means to be a woman or man is going to differ based on the culture, geographical location, and time. What it meant to be a woman in the US in the 19th century is different than what it means to be a woman in the 21st century. As cultures evolve over time so are the ideals of what it means to be man or woman.
While sex refers the biological characteristics that make up a person, their gender is determined by the behaviors and attitudes considered “proper” by society according to their sex.
For thousands of years until today, the best way to officially be the partner of someone is through marriage. People have practiced marriage for thousands of years. Many cultures see marriage as the best method to celebrate the love of a couple until death tears them apart. “Marriage establishes and maintains family, creates and sustains the ties of kinship, and is the basis of community” (Rowe 2). Marriage is a concept bigger than ones happiness and it is the basic for creating a peaceful home for the family. According to Rowe, “This sense of home requires the dynamic participation of both women and men--the women to mother and the men to father--to fulfill the daily roles of teaching, nurturing and protecting children” ( 2). Parents have an obligation to take care for children, so that when they grow up they are able to become a person who is strong enough to support himself. But there are different opinions whether raising a child should be shared equally between parents. One group thinks that it is essential for a child to grow up with the love and care of both parents. Meanwhile, others believe that child raising should be shared in a way that suits the family. While single parents argue that even without one parent they can give their children the needed love and care.
Sex and gender are terms that are mixed up from day to day and seen as similarities rather than differences. Sex is what distinguishes people from being either male or female. It is the natural or biological variations between males and females (Browne, 1998). Some of these variations are genitals, body hair and internal and external organs. It is the make-up of chromosomes, men have one X and one Y chromosome and women have two X chromosomes, these are responsible for primary characteristics (Fulcher and Scott, 2003). Gender on the other hand refers to the sociological differences between male and female. This is teaching males and females to behave in various ways due to socialisation (Browne, 1998). Example: masculinity and femininity. Girls are supposed to show their femininity by being non-competitive, sensitive, dependent, attractive and placid. If and when some girls don’t succeed in keeping this image they will be referred to as a tomboy. On the other hand, boys show their masculinity through aggression, physical strength...
According to Crapo, (2013), “Gender defines the social statuses and roles into which people are socialized based on cultural concepts about the sexes” (sec. 5.1). Society considers the sex of a person and then determines how they should act and the roles they will play. Humans are considered to be male or female, and their roles or gender is determined by the society in which they live. Cultural differences shape the way that women and men are perceived in their social environment, and these differences also influence how gender is
According to McCurdy, the main ways that kinship organizes “Bhil” society in Ratakote, India are the terms used to refer to them, the responsibilities that they have toward one another, and the importance of marrying them off properly. Marriage plays a big role in life for the Bhil’s of Ratakote. The Bhil’s follow their tradition of arranging marriages. They feel that by arranging marriages, both of the families of the bride and groom will benefit in many ways. To them, marriage constructs alliances between the families, lineage, and clans. It also gives social strength and security to the families, and their personal reputations depend on the quality and number of their allied kin.
The bestowing of dowries is an ancient tradition. Unlike the Western concept of a single ‘‘bride payment’’, the Indian tradition consists of an ongoing series of gifts both before and after the marriage to appease the husband and his family. In Western culture, a young married couple establishes their own home with both partners contributing to the welfare of their new ‘‘family’’, while in India, the husband’s family takes in the bride, adding a financial burden to the extended family living arrangements. When the dowry demands are not met, husbands and in-laws render significant mental and physical harassment on the young brides in an effort to encourage her family to fulfill their dowry obligations and even kill the young bride1. Dowry deaths