Kinship, Marriage, and Family Structures

• This section defines kinship as social relationships from consanguinity, marriage, and adoption.
• Discussion includes relationships based on biological ties or adoption
• Adopted children are incorporated into kin groups of their fictional parents
• Descent systems will be analyzed, including clans and lineages
• Also examined is concept of “marriage” and role in family life, with types of families and their functions explained.
• Marriage prohibitions, rules for choosing partners, and rights/obligations in marriage will be analyzed
• Kinship is social relationships derived from consanguinity, marriage, and adoption.
• Relationships are based on biological ties or adoption
• Adopted children are meant to be fully incorporated into kin groups of their fictional parents
• These relationships are governed by specific rules, reciprocal duties/obligations/responsibilities.
• Kinship system involves behaviors associated with relatives and principles governing these behaviors

Importance of Kinship

• Institutions are related in society.

• Kinship's importance cannot be overemphasized because:

• It allows understanding of one another and aspects of other institutions.

• Forms basis of many organizations/institutions, especially in traditional societies.

• Kinship system prescribes statuses/roles to people in certain relationships.

• Determines rules, duties, and obligations of individuals/groups and in all aspects of life

• It determines where couples live after marriage, how property is transmitted, who succeeds, and who worships at shrines

• Kinship determines who worships at ancestral shrines, who officiates, and which spirits are invoked.

• Clear interplay of kinship in traditional Ghanaian societies.

• Inheritance, property relations, and residence patterns are determined by kinship

• Governs seniority/succession rules, defining local groups in political organization.

• Etiquette involves seniority principles, positions of men/women, old/young, father/child, and husband/wife

• Kinship is key to understanding traditional communities, forming basis of organization in almost all spheres of social life

• Ghanaian traditional religion associates with ancestor worship

• Death isn't the end; spirit survives physical body, influencing earthly life.

• Societies have rituals/sacrifices/practices for ancestors' spirits

• Ancestor worship maintains link between dead and living.

• Beliefs/practices maintain authority within kinship system and working relationships

• Ghanaian ancestral rituals are organized by descent groups such a clan or lineage

• Kinship provides rules governing organization/recruitment into descent groups.

• In rural Ghana, kinship looms large and determines property relations, political relations, economic and legal obligations

• Spatial mobility in urban situations diminishes importance

• People depend less on lineage property; status is no longer based on age/position

• Kinship groups are no longer localized; kinship's importance as basis of social life has reduced.

• Kinship hasn't disappeared; kin groups have changed forms; new relations replace old

• Traditional relationships still play role; kinsman may assume responsibility for someone from village

• Kinship ties are still important in urban areas, with some flexibility for special situations

Descent Groups (Clan, Lineage)

• Descent systems are principles/rules regulating organization of groups within individuals perform everyday tasks

• Groups are known as descent groups like clans/lineages

• Descent is process by direct genealogical connection is traced between individual and forebears/offspring for kin group recruitment

• Genealogical connection is direct when filiation ties at every genealogy generation

• Usually one line (male or female) is recognized; male line system is called patrilineal descent system

• Patrilineal system includes all people descended through only the male line from common ancestor

• Examples of patrilineal societies in Ghana: Ewes, Gas, Tallensi, and other northern societies

• Female line is matrilineal descent system; group includes those descended through female line from common ancestress

• Akans provide only major matrilineal descent system

• Clan organization differs by society; consideration given to usages

• Clan is group of males/females believed to descended through one line (male or female) from common putative ancestor.

• Clan is large, inclusive group where genealogical ties to founder unknown

• Founder is considered putative (believed/reputed).

• Clan is dispersed; members aren't in same/contiguous settlement; almost every settlement has multiple clans represented.

• Akan/Anlo clans are examples; Tallensi/Gas are more localized.

• In some societies, clan is exogamous (marriages forbidden). Akans seek spouses from other clans

• Position is same among Tallensi/northern Ewe groups; Anlo/Tongu Ewe groups encourage marriage among clans

• Clans are associated with totems/taboos.

• Totem is object (plant/animal) with ritual association; members treat it in certain way.

• Examples: Bameee clan – leopard; Bretuo – lion; Oyoko clan – eagle; Aduana – dog with fire

• Members forbidden to kill leopard/avoid skin use; given fitting burial

• Taboo is anything forbidden:

• Groups are may not eat particular plant, fish, or animal

• Totems are taboos; members may refrain from eating them.

• Clan numbers differ by society and aren't a function of size.

• Akans have 8 clans, Anlos have 15. Numbers are fixed, resulting in quarrels/fusion/fission from proliferation

• Ga's have six clans linked with towns because organized into six towns: Accra, Osu, La, Teshie, Nungua, Tema

• Clan is normally not effective means of regular/frequent social interaction due to large number of clans and dispersed clan members

• Clanship really works in the fields of rituals and interpersonal friendship among members. Clan therefore enjoy warm hospitality among clansfolk.

• Clans are be distinguished from tribes/ethnic groups. Tribe speaks same language like Akans, Ewes, Gas, Builsas etc; clans are tribe sections

Lineage

• Lineage is a segment of clan in one locality

• Lineage is a group of males/females who descended through one line only from common ancestor/ancestress.

• Lineage members localized, know genealogical ties connecting them to founder or ties among themselves.

• Lineage is almost always corporate group because:

  • Has leader/owns property/members regularly discuss common interest matters

• Lineage has legal personality; can sue/be sued. Land is property usually vested in lineages

• Lineage is exogamous group; marriage forbidden.

• As localized group, member relations likely to be active

• Co-residence/activity breeds conflict when property rights are in dispute.

• Lineage is differentiated group:

  • Looks like single unit, but is highly segmented. Relations vary based on genealogical positions.
  • Closer on chart means closer/intimate relationship.

• Segmentation can situation see itself as unit in one context; breeds smaller units of same kind or unites with others to form bigger units

• Lines of fission/fusion determined by positions on genealogical chart, for example, inter-house sports

• Unit has leader, but descendants have various leaders to cater for immediate needs

• Only matters of the entire lineage involve leader of whole group

• Descendants of lineage member consider themselves closer than any member whole lineage not descended from “man”

• Patrilineal/Matrilineal systems are unilineal descent systems because membership is through one line (male/female).

• When unilineal groups exist side by side, known as double unilineal descent: individual belongs simultaneously to two descent groups

• Father's patrilineal descent group and mother's matrilineal descent group

• Bilateral descent uses both sides of family without emphasis on a specific line (cognatic/non-unilineal descent)

• Agnatic descent is another name patrilineal descent; members are called agnates

• Uterine Kinship is used matrilineal kinship/uterine kin

• System devised to give precision use of certain terms to designate ambiguous kin categories like uncle, cousin, grandfather, grandmother

• Designating categories done by describing relationships instead of blanket terms

• For example, instead of uncle, mother's brother or father's brother Sibling refers to:

  • Children of one person/couple
  • Children of same father/mother are full siblings
    • Those of same mother but different fathers or vice versa are half siblings

• Ego is person who provides reference point in determining/tracing kinship relationships (usually male/female).

• In patrilineal society, Ego belongs to father's lineage, because an individual belongs to his father's lineage

• Diagram of relationships in a genealogy:

  • The relation of those in the genealogy to Ego as such
  • Instead of writing these fully, use the letter symbols: F - Father, M - Mother, B - Brother, Z - Sister, D - Daughter, S -Son, H – Husband, W - Wife.
  • Thus, father's sister's son FZS and mother's brother MB

• Patrilineal system of kinship is the most common in Africa however, in Ghana, Akans practice the matrilineal system practiced

• Examples of patrilineal lineage in Ghana are: Gonja, Dagomba etc

• In patrilineal system, individual belongs father's descent group, made up of males/females who descended through male line.

• Children of male members belong, but those of females do not.

• Lineage is exogamous; children of brothers can't marry since are members of same descent group, however children brother/sister can

• Cross-cousin marriage is common

• Parallel cousin practiced among the Tongu Ewe and societies of Northern Ghana, marriage within maximal lineage encouraged

• Residential patterns in patrilineal societies are patrilocal/virilocal

• Many men use matrilineal ties for residence, but social lives prevent some women from moving to husband's houses

• Gas are patrilineal, but their residential system is duo-local

• Succession/inheritance passes in male line, details of transmission of property/status differ

• Inheritance means property transmission; succession refers to status/office transmission.

• In some societies, succession/inheritance pass from father to sons/children. In others, succession passes to brothers before children.

• Form of transmission is not uniform.

• Some systems exclude daughters; others share, but daughters' shares smaller.

• Property may be shared among wives with children before being distributed among children of each wife.

• Rules governing lineage property inheritance and self-acquired property differ; beneficiaries may be different kin group.

• Children continue to farm father's land even if lineage property.

• If property stands in lineage's name, inheritance to farm is vested segment lineage (effective minimal lineage)

• This comprises adult sons common grandfather/great-grandfather; head of the group there fore is a leader

• On head leader's death, next senior generations man takes over or younger brother takes on

• Leader's position admin than user.

• Usage:

  • Sons of land user can take over, administration in heads hands

• In Anlo Ewe, number children wife begets determines size inherited property.

• Wife's landed property transmitted similarly. However, women's ornaments, trinkets, clothing inherited daughters

• Men's clothing, tools, weapons go to sons.

• Among Krobos, eldest son inherits property (primogeniture); takes responsibility his brothers benefit land.

• In polygynous families, property is shared equally among eldest sons of wives with children this means Krobo's and Tallensis, women can inherit property

• Important to note that one generation’s personal property becomes family property

• Usually the properties remain until it gets to grand and great grand children

• Matrilineal system:

  • Descent group traced through the female line only
  • The system of who benefits/succeeds from what is through the female line, from brother-sister. Sister gets it over brother? Ashanti Matrilineal Society:

• Main descent comes from the matriarch -The descent groups are interpersonal with the families

  • Every member comes from the same linage of eight clans
  • But each member from that clan are associated with the higher ranking and the most people of that clan represent that town

• Observance in that family for their totems are what define them, not any rule or political boundary

• 8 clans; all can't function together as the same unit since they are so big

• The Matriliny operates on a domestic and individual level

  • All the descendants who are 'abusua"- the members descend from a known ancestry
  • Each member descends from the female line- this makes a corporate lineage

• Three types of groupings:

  • Wives grouped by their husbands
  • The minimal decent group: the women, daughters, sons, sisters
  • Combos the previous two groups together, sister, wife, children with mother

• The brother in this Matrilineal situation is normally reserved for the father in the Patrilineal Societies

• the father is Kra-nan- has part of soul

• The children do not belong to descent group which limits the control that fathers have

• Although they may not be able to benefit they are tied

• Always issues with inheritance because its always up to the the brothers

• Partrilineal kinship:

  • Important feature in life
  • Soul and status of member
    • child must have recognition from Dad and training

Double Unilineal Descent (Dual Descent)

• Where a person belongs to two separate descent group from each parilineal and matrilineal side.

• Ghanaian groups who practice this :Lodagaba of NW ghana- living in Western borders

• Immovable prop is patri, movable is matri Lodagaba are usually patrilocal where Agnaters are residents

• The matri decent does not own land, owns ritual groves and shrines.

• Does have members and leaders.

• Lack co residence because of the conflict it creates

• It's based mostly on personal descent and relations between members

• The patri side: - Local owners and frequent interactions.

  • Can cause rivallily

• Matrilineal groups are from both family sides, both in each others throats

• Family is always looking for affection and support.

• woman would for example, marry someone from the Ewe side

• Bilateral descent in the family: - descent family is not based on unillineal because its bases on gineauology and the system does not exist. - descent is always unillineal · BUT bilateral descent ALSO acts as the basic for SOME society groups.

• The Matri brother and children does not belong like ego, but they all share.

• The desent group in this situation is very vast In a nutshell the family sides are using non unilineal descent (both sides).

• Can try and affiliate from all people with connections

• The north system uses a political centralised view- with no references to the unilineal descent, building a dynastic view. They built on dynasty - usually family/matri or patri- the choice is always one.

• Families are made of affinity, adoption, and marriage

• families share a common definition and this can cause problems

• families bond with psych and social reasons:

• legal bonds:

  • can't simply and easy break laws cause of family. Has to file a motion to break law.

• economic bond

  • always mutual between wife and partner and kid in production.
  • "cant without woman or either way"

• religious bond

  • always unbreakable- "death till us apart"

• rights

  • the couple has a exclusive relationship where they have exclusive benefits

• love- arousing, feelings- "Erotic love", feelings you have. In comparison the GOD has Agape

• psychological bond -Affection- which requires a loving compassion when loving one another, knowing the compassion for each other -respect- considering and appreciating each person on their worth

• Awe

  • Submission where family relies on the protection from the man

Three Types of Families:

• Nuclear Family
• Married partners and there children.
• Polygamous Family
• A man +wives+children or woman plus children
• Extended Family
• Several family units but no real household. This is for economic support and housekeeping. This can also be multiple houses with one leading man. In poly games- the families switch weeks for the husband. The residence is the extended form.
• In paatri- is patrical
• wife goes and lives with husband
• Aspect of a family The sons are from his family
• Can lead complicated cases when the Bride stays with he family till two kids.
• Can also be when kids go home in dowhood and divorce.
• Family and society must go together to work/alter the dynamics
• 1. couples marriage, expands till childbirth completes
  • 2. The phase till last kid is marriage, some ladies come back, or can come as other reasons
• 3. a son is asked to move to parents home when people die.
• Social constructs dictate how and when these families can get to gether
• 3phases work together
• Soceity and family work together

Functions of the family dynamics:

• socialization
• the family is a general legal binding, but sometimes families an function without the bond
• society allows production without marriage Concubinage.is to have child out marriage
• Most cases where a family resides in harmony; this works well and is not always the case
• Ashanti (The man and woman) family continue to the wives own residence.
• This make Ashanti men create house for wives and there children

Social functions

• The roles of fathers/mothers is important to society
• when living with family is important to stay grounded and the family as a unit
• family helps the mother until grown and well
• with the patri family this function is not always able to be
• This because there is not a shared household; family members can handle situations

Primary is training for the child, and giving everything they need:

1. biological process- reproduction of a child in love
2. basic needs such as food, healthcare
3. assign a status- working middle class or upper

Socialization- (Process) the training for the child to learn the culture and language The society and culture for what they have to do-

1. maintain all areas what society can be looked at Family in society acts just as a miniature. Politically the family is the head Lineage- collection of people in the society Religious families are traditional

• Family are to be safe and secured, help each other Traditionally people got together for a family: The main modes of how families socialise are the ones mentioned. The family is to be a miniature society
• *Introduction for society changes
• Families change with society
• Family can be heart of social strictures
• Family allows all the sources to fill other functions, religion, politics**

Explore kinship as social relationships derived from consanguinity, marriage, and adoption. Learn about relationships based on biological ties or adoption, and how adopted children are incorporated into kin groups. Understand descent systems, the concept of marriage, family types, and the rules governing partner selection.