Page 81 - DSOC402_SOCIOLOGY_OF_KINSHIP_ENGLISH

Unit 11: Changes in Land and Lineage Structure

“patrilineal” systems in which closely related men (fathers, sons, brothers) live together Notes
with their wives and children.
• The kinship pattern in Indian society is generally viewed in the context of Hindu joint fam-
ily and therefore has not received much attention.

11.6 Key Words
• Lineage: Lineage refers to a body of people who are arranged together on the basis of com-
mon blood linkage, a special type of blood relationship that is bringing people together.
• Lineage structure: Lineage structure may be regarded as a branching process, as when two
or three founders of small lineages are represented as brothers or sisters.
• Unilineal systems: a system of determining descent groups in which one belongs to one’s
father’s or mother’s lineage. Both patrilineality and matrilineality are types of unilineal
descent.
• Non-Unilineal systems: a system where there exists multiple forms of relationship.
• Kinship system: The kinship system refers to a set of persons recognised as relatives,
either, by virtue of a blood relationship technically called consanguinity, or by
virtue of a marriage relationship, that is through what is called affinity.

11.7 Review Questions

1. What do you mean by inheritance of status and property?
2. Write a note on lineage structure.
3. Discuss the relationship between the kinship network and social changes.
4. Write a detail note on continuity and change: The Institution of Kinship.

Answers to Check Your Progress

1. Lineage structure
2. Matrilineal
3. Unilineal
4. True
5. True

11.8 Further Readings

Development of family sociology in India-Alka Rani, D.K.Publishers and
Distributors
Marriage and family in India-K.S.Kapadia
Families in India, Marriage and Kinship-Shobhita Jain, Rawat Publications

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