Matrilineal and Patrilineal Descents

Matrilineal vs. Patrilineal Descents

• Focus is on matrilineal and patrilineal descent systems to understand lineages.
• Patrilineal and matrilineal descent definitions are explored
• Lineages and how they work can be better understood.

Differences in Descent

• People with parents coming from large families often attend family reunions and gatherings.
• Time spent with the mom's or dad's family appeared equal to the person.
• A clan is a group which family members identify with

Unilineal Descent

• Unilineal descent means descent is traced through one gender only.
• This includes either tracing through the men or the women of the family
• Most Western families are not traced unilineally.
• Under a unilineal descent system, one side of the family is not considered part of the kin group.
• There are two sub-categories of unilineal descent, including patrilineal and matrilineal descent.

Patrilineal Descent

• Patrilineal descent tracks kin or clan membership through men.
• Patrilineal descent can be remembered as tracing descent through the "papas".
• To illustrate patrilineal descent, names of family members begin with the same letter
• Kids' descent will be traced through their dad and grandpa, the kids will not be part of Kathy's (mother) clan.
• Kids will be considered part of their dad's clan and not the grandpa's (on the mom's side).
• Under a patrilineal system, children of siblings are not linked to the same descent group.

Matrilineal Descent

• A matrilineal descent system traces an individual's kin membership is through women.
• Matrilineal descent can be remembered by family descent being traced through "mamas".
• In a matrilineal system, twins were named Matt and Martha
• Their descent kin group is their mother's.
• Martha's children are named Maddie, Max, and Marley, like their mom, Martha, and their grandma, Mary.
• Matrilineal system traces descent through the women in their family -This makes new members part of their mom and grandma's kin group or clan.

Unilineal Descent Summary

• A clan only traces lineage through either their men or their women.
• Two main types of unilineal descent systems are patrilineal and matrilineal.
• Patrilineal descent traces an individual’s kin group through men.
• Matrilineal traces descent through the women of the clan.

Kinship Network | Definition & Examples

• Kinship is a social relationship defined by family and genetics
• Kinship is a way to organize groups and track lineages.
• Kinship has rules and expectations
• Within a kinship network, people are expected to look out for each other.

Descent Systems

• Descent systems include the ways heritage and lineage are traced in a family
• Patrilineal system: Lineage is passed through the father's side of the family.
• Men keep their last names, while women adopt the husband's name
• Matrilineal system: lineage is passed through the mother's side
• Jewish communities are matrilineal
• Unilateral descent systems consider lineage from only one side of the family.
• Bilateral descent involves both sides of the family being important sources to kinship relations.

Family Types

• The conjugal family includes one husband, one wife, and their biological children.
• It is also known as a nuclear family.
• Extended families include genetic family members beyond parents and children
• Blended families are members not genetically connected.
• Domestic partnership is when people are legally considered a family because they live together, but are not married.

Family Lesson Summary

• Families are affiliated by genetics or living situations
• A conjugal family has one mother, one father, and shared biological children
• Extended families rely on a genetic link involving grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins
• Blended families have people who live in traditional family units and aren't genetically related
• Kinship is the overall network of people who are related
• The two basic forms of kinship are patrilineal and matrilineal, which are unilateral
• A bilateral system draws heritage from both sides of the family.

Traditional Family: Definition & Concept

• According to a 2010 statistic, more of the U.S. population live in a non-traditional family system when compared to a traditional one.
• A traditional family includes: a man, a woman, and one or more of their biological or adopted children.
• Most traditional families involve a husband and a wife
• Another term used to refer to a traditional family is a nuclear family
• Nontraditional families include: cohabitation, single-parent, extended, and same-sex parent families

Pros/Cons of Traditional Families

• Traditional families provide more stability when compared to single parent or multi-generational families
• Traditional families have increased consistency with raising children
• Bonds are strong and emotional support is readily available in traditional families
• Financially, both parents contribute, which increases financial stability and cash flow
• Isolation from extended family members can happen in traditional families
• Stress of finding outside childcare and burnout are also limitations of traditional families

Family Life Traditions: Courtship, Marriage, Child Rearing, & Aging

• Sociology studies include the exploration of family life stages and traditions
• This includes courtship, marriage, child rearing, and aging
• Aspects of family life: romantic love, arranged marriages, homogamy, the empty nest, and declining birth rates are important to consider

Basic Stages

• Familial pattern has remained the same for centuries: couples get together, marry, have children, and then age
• Traditional family life includes:
• Courtship
• Marriage
• Child Rearing
• Aging

Courtship Stage

• Courtship= a couple develops a relationship before marriage
• Goal is to find someone suitable to marry
• Two main types of courtship: romantic love and arranged marriages
• In societies, people celebrate romantic love as the basis of marriage
• Courtship is the time to seek 'the one' - a special person to marry and spend the rest of lives with
• Passion keys to a successful marriage.
• Almost half of American marriages end in divorce -Romantic love can be a less stable foundation for marriage compared to social and economic factors

Arranged Marriage

• Courtship is too important to leave up to the young in arranged marriages.
• These marriages create alliances or to provide economic benefits
• Arranged marriages tend to have a much lower rate of divorce and separation
• Homogamy is when people with the same social characteristics get marries.
• Potential mates with similar backgrounds are considered the most attractive.
• Arranged marriages: between families who have similar social statuses
• Those who marry due to romantic love usually are in the same social class

Marriage Stage

• Marriage: a traditional courtship that involves a couple legally uniting and beginning a life together.
• Society idealizes marriage as 'happily ever after.'
• The wedding industry profits from this idealized view.
• The average cost of a wedding is around $25,000.
• The honeymoon is a time of endless romance and sexual gratification
• High expectations can lead to disappointment after the 'honeymoon phase' ends.
• The U.S. has a high divorce rate due to the fading of sexual ardor and passion with time.
• Many People divorce in favor of renewed excitement
• A successful marriage requires more than love and sexual compatibility, but also trust, honesty, respect, and hard work.

Child Rearing Stage

• This stage involves a married couple bearing and raising their children
• Raising children is considered the life's greatest joys
• Two or three children is considered the ideal number
• Two centuries ago, eight children was the average.
• Advantageous to have big families in preindustrial societies, because children supply needed labor.
• Factors that have brought about a low birthrate in the U.S. include:
• Economic costs
• Birth control technology
• Higher employment of women
• Higher education

Aging Stage

• Responsibilities change once children are grown.
• Aging is the stage of family life after one's children have become independent
• The empty nest is when parents are left with empty space in the home after their children leave
• The empty nest can cause grief or depression
• This is referred to as 'empty nest syndrome.'
• Adults take care of their elderly parents, with decreases negative effects of an empty nest
• The final transition involves the death of a spouse, and is difficult to cope with
• Couples stay married longer because of increased life expectancy
• Women have a greater life expectancy and spend time as widows.

Elder Abuse

• The neglect or abuse of dependent elderly persons.
• Types: physical and/or psychological abuse, financial exploitation, medical abuse, and neglect
• Rates of elder abuse are disturbingly high and are being researched by sociologists

Family Lesson Summary

• An expected familial pattern still persists in society
• The stages are important to understand the nuances of sociological life
• People form relationships though courtship and develop a relationship before marriage
• After courtship is the marriage stage, where a couple unite and begin a life together, but can often times lead to divorce
• Raising children is one of the stages
• Aging can result in empty nest syndrome and eventually, elder abuse

Unilineal Descent: Patrilineal and Matrilineal

• Saudi Arabia: Family heritage, names, and property are often traced through the male line Comparisons
• China, Pre-20th Century: Family lineage and inheritance passed down the male line and reflected in ancestor worship. Comparisons
• West African Akans: Lineage and inheritance are traced through the mother's line.

Marriage Systems: Arranged and Homogamy

• Saudi Arabia: Arranged marriages are customary
• Saudi Arabia: homagamy is prevalent due to occurring within cultures for cohesion Comparisons
• India: astrological analysis is involved
• Western Countries: People marry individuals from similar backgrounds

Family Types: Nuclear and Extended Families

• Saudi Arabia: Extended families: resources, responsibilities, and childcare are shared Comparisons
• Italy: extended structures benefit agriculture working
• United States: Nuclear Families: independence is prevalent

Concept of the Empty Nest and Elder Care

• Saudi Arabia has Familial Responsibility
• Saudi Arabia: It is customary for children to support parents as they age Comparisons
• Japan: value is placed on elders in family life
• Scandinavia: State-funded systems for elder care These comparisons highlight cultural specifics related to family dynamics and societal structures.