Page 52 - DSOC402_SOCIOLOGY_OF_KINSHIP_ENGLISH

Sociology of Kinship Sukanya Das, Lovely Professional University

Notes Unit 7: Approaches to the Study of Kinship:
Gender Perspective

CONTENTS
Objectives
Introduction
7.1 Status of Women in Matrilineal Society
7.2 Status of Women in Patrilineal Society

7.3 Summary
7.4 Keywords
7.5 Review Questions

7.6 Further Readings

Objectives
After studying this unit, students will be able to:
• Understand to concept of ‘gender’ in reference to social part.

• Know the forms of gender in different societies.

Introduction
There was a difference of opinion for long in theorists regarding position of women in tribal
societies. Some says that in tribal societies, women are given high position generally, whereas
others supporting the position opposite to it says that in primitive societies, generally women
are a backward group.
This difference of opinion exceeding other relations is the result of mistake in the study pattern
of generalisation on the basis of limits and specific data. Another reason is the trend of different
interpretations about position. In terms of high or low positions the interpretations are oftenly
generalised and unclear.

Malenovoski said, position can be defined only after understanding the respon-
sibilites of men and women for each other and the remedies to save them from
each other’s despositioness.

Lavy has described four different basis of position and said that it is not necessary that all four
should be found together. These are—
1. Actual behaviour of a woman
2. Legal position of a woman

46 LOVELY PROFESSIONAL UNIVERSITY