Page 11 - DSOC402_SOCIOLOGY_OF_KINSHIP_ENGLISH

Unit 1: Nature and Significance of the Subject

Dr Reverse and many Indian anthropologists have enriched the knowledge of anthropology by Notes
studying the various aspects of kinship on the basis of kinship. Various models have also been
developed to study anthropology which are used to understand the system of kinship.
Neils Grevarn has described some reasons for the importance to studying kinship in various
societies which have motivated anthropologists for such studies. These reason are as follow:
1. Kinship systems are universal.
2. Kinship arrangements are always important in all the human societies with a little bit
differences.
3. In majority of the societies which have been traditionally studied by anthropologists, kin-
ship system has been an important principle in social organization.
4. Kinship arrangements system can be clarified easily & their analysis can also be easily un-
derstood comparatively.
5. In anthropology, it has become evident from the study of various societies that kinship is
a very important organisation and this organisation is different from the organisation of
society. This attracted the attention of social anthropologists towards the study of kinship.
6. Before the birth of social anthropology, other social scientists have studied the various as-
pects of society. These people did not pay attention towards the study of kinship system.
Social anthropologists showed interest towards this ignored topic of study. In this way the
study of kinship has played an important role in human development and in understand-
ing the social structure. From the above whole discussion, it is evident that the importance
of studying kinship is increasing day-by-day.

Self Assessment

Fill in the blanks:
1. According to Redcliff Brown_________ is the accepted desent relation for social purposes
which is the basis of traditional relations in social structure.
2. According to Dr Reverse, definition of __________ is that relation which can be determined
and _________ by the medium of genealogy.
3. Mayor Fortess study was _________ based.

1.2 Summary
• Sexual desire give rise to marriage and marriage gives rise to family and kinship.
• In kinship system accepted relations based on imagined and real genealogical relations are
included.
• Kinship determines genealogy.
• Kinship decides the field/area of marriage.
• Kinship occurs in creation of all human societies with little bit changes.

1.3 Keywords
1. Kinship System: The arrangement of rules and circumstance according to the customs
which controls and directs the behaviors of nearest kith and kins is called kinship system.
2. Safeguard of Economic Interest: Kin group does not represent one individual but second
line of defence.

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