Kinship An Intro Into/Anthropological Study Family/Marriage

9780534594459

053459445X

This text is designed as a primer that defines and describes kinship, marriage, and family cross-culturally. Students will gain a solid understanding of the organization of kinship in today's world--including the United States-- through relevant ethnographic examples. Students will also gain an understanding of the social, political, and legal impact on 'parentage' and 'marriage' of Assisted Reproductive Technologies, same sex unions, divorce, and blended families. Traditional kinship concepts are covered, providing students with a foundation for understanding human social relationships and how they relate. Ethnographic examples will also emphasize and illustrate these points. The author also provides detailed diagrams of various kinship systems found worldwide, and kinship diagram exercises on the Companion Website to l give students a fun way to learn this rather complex subject. The author will emphasize why the study of kinship is important to understanding 'parentage', 'marriage', and 'family' in today's world. In addition to providing students with a firm foundation for understanding traditional kinship material, the book goes far beyond to address issues relevant to students today by looking at contemporary social issues. Using cross-cultural and historical data, the book explores concerns about family and marriage currently being debated in the United States and Europe. The characteristics and potential impacts of the Assisted Reproductive Technologies, single-parent households, blended families, and homosexual unions are also described. Students will also learn how to draw and analyze genealogies for deeper understanding. And interesting discussions on recent court cases and the application of anthropological concepts to contemporary problems of family and marriage today will emphasize the relevance of the material for students today.