Question 1

How do most Canadians reckon kinship?

Accepted Answer

Most Canadians reckon kinship bilaterally, which means they recognize and trace descent from both the father's and mother's side of the family. In this system, individuals belong to two families – one related to their father and the other related to their mother. This is different from patrilineal and matrilineal systems, where descent is traced exclusively through the father or mother's side, respectively.

Question 2

Among which groups would you find the practice of brideservice and marriage,usually arranged by the parents?

Accepted Answer

The Ju/'hoansi, a group of San people from Southern Africa, traditionally practice brideservice, where the groom works for the bride's family for a period of time. Marriage is often arranged by the parents in their culture.

Question 3

Which kinship principle do North American legal systems most often give priority to in questions of child custody?

Accepted Answer

B

Question 4

Among the Trobrianders,what is the key family relationship?

Accepted Answer

Among the Trobrianders, the key family relationship is considered to be between siblings or specifically, brother and sister. This relationship is viewed as the most important one and is believed to shape the individual's personality and behavior. It is also the primary source of emotional support and care within the family.

Question 5

Suppose an anthropologist is studying families in a particular society.Besides knowing what is defined as a typical family in that society,what else would it be most helpful to know?

Accepted Answer

Knowing about the debates in the society about family composition can provide an understanding of how family structures are changing and evolving, and what factors are influencing those changes. This information can be valuable in understanding the dynamics of family relationships in the society being studied. Knowing the correct version of the family is subjective and can vary from person to person, so it is not as important as understanding the debates surrounding family composition. Similarly, knowing the number of members and roles in a typical family may be helpful, but it is only one aspect of understanding family dynamics in a society. The representation of family in media and on television dramas can also be useful, but it is not as essential as understanding the debates and changes in family composition within the society.

Question 6

In which society do we find that people group together in a specific place to live,and that the group is often based around brother-and-sister pairs? They may live with their spouses and children,their spouses' family members,and even parents of the adults.

Accepted Answer

The answer of In which society do we find that...

Question 7

In the Trobriand Islands,who collects "bridewealth"?

Accepted Answer

In the Trobriand Islands, the groom's father and maternal uncle collect "bridewealth." This is a traditional practice where the groom's family pays a sum of money or goods to the bride's family as a form of compensation for the loss of their daughter. It is also a way to establish a bond between the two families.

Question 8

What is NOT a common reason for why Ju/'hoansi parents prefer that their daughters marry when they are young?

Accepted Answer

In Ju/'hoansi culture, the groom's family does not give gifts to the bride's family, so the parents do not gain wealth from the marriage. Instead, the correct reasons are A, C, and D. Marrying their daughters off young means that her husband will remain and work for the parents for a longer time, reducing conflict between men over their daughter, and gaining an immediate alliance with another family for mutual support.

Question 9

What is a "baloma"?

Accepted Answer

In Trobriand belief, baloma is a spirit that represents the dead who did not receive a proper burial. It is believed that these spirits can bring misfortune to the living if they are not properly propitiated.

Question 10

Why do Trobriand Islanders minimize or deny the role of men in conception?

Accepted Answer

Trobriand society is matrilineal, meaning descent is traced through the mother's family line. Denying the role of men in conception reinforces this principle and emphasizes the importance of the mother's family lineage.

Question 11

To the Trobrianders,which is considered a more intimate activity for husbands and wives than having sex?

Accepted Answer

In Trobriand culture, sharing food is considered a highly intimate activity between husbands and wives. It symbolizes a deep level of trust and a willingness to provide for each other. Sex, while important, is not considered as intimate or significant as sharing food.

Question 12

What cycle must be completed successfully to ensure the stability of a marriage and a matrilineage in Trobriand society?

Accepted Answer

In Trobriand society, the cycle of exchanges of yams and banana leaf bundles is essential for ensuring the stability of a marriage and a matrilineage. This cycle involves a series of reciprocal exchanges between the husband's and wife's matrilineal relatives, who exchange yams and banana leaf bundles as a way to strengthen and maintain social relationships. The success of these exchanges is seen as a sign of the couple's social and reproductive potency, and failure to complete the cycle can lead to suspicion, conflict, and ultimately, the breakdown of the marriage and the matrilineage. Therefore, this cycle is crucial for the stability and continuity of Trobriand society.

Question 13

In rural Chinese society,what is the most important relationship in the family?

Accepted Answer

The relationship between father and son is traditionally considered the most important in rural Chinese society, reflecting the Confucian emphasis on filial piety and the patriarchal family structure.

Question 14

Immediate after marriage a man goes to live with his wife and works for his wife's parents for a period of time.What is the name of this custom?

Accepted Answer

The custom described is known as "brideservice," in which the groom works for his wife's family as a way of demonstrating his ability to provide for his new family and earning their approval.

Question 15

What does "temporal depth" in rural Chinese society refer to?

Accepted Answer

Temporal depth refers to the long line of patrilineal ancestors in a family in rural Chinese society. It is believed that one's ancestors continue to play a significant role in the family even after death, and honoring them is an important part of Chinese culture.

Question 16

Ideally,what is the family village composition of the Trobriand Islanders?

Accepted Answer

The Trobriand Islanders practice a matrilineal kinship system where descent is traced through the mother's line. The family village composition is organized around the clan of the mother, and inheritance is passed down from the mother's side.

Question 17

For North Americans,what still remains most important family grouping?

Accepted Answer

The nuclear family, consisting of a married couple and their children, is still the most important family grouping for North Americans. This is evidenced by the fact that most households in North America consist of a nuclear family or single-person households, and the emphasis on individualism in North American culture often leads to the nuclear family being the primary unit of social support and caregiving. Matrilineal and patrilineal family structures are not common in North American culture, and while extended families may be important for some individuals, they are not as widespread as the nuclear family.

Question 18

In traditional rural China,what did family life centre around?

Accepted Answer

Traditional rural Chinese family life centered around the patrilineal extended family, in which multiple generations and branches of a family lived together and shared resources under the authority of the patriarch. This family structure was considered crucial to maintaining cultural and social values, as well as economic stability in agricultural communities. Matrilineal nuclear and extended families were not common in traditional rural China.

Question 19

Which of these would be most typical of an anthropologist describing a culture in the ethnographic present?

Accepted Answer

The use of the ethnographic present tense involves describing the culture being studied as if actions are happening at the moment of observation. Even though the research material may have been collected several decades ago, using present tense language provides an immersive experience for the reader or listener to help understand the culture. Choice A involves discussing the history of a culture and not describing current practices, while choices C and D describe practices within specific time frames, limiting the overall description of the culture.

Question 20

What is bilateral kinship likely to tell us about a society's views on descent?

Accepted Answer

Bilateral kinship suggests that a society does not prioritize one side of the family over the other in terms of descent, and may therefore not distinguish between the children of aunts and uncles.

Quiz 4: Patterns of Family Relations