Sociology – II UNIT – I NOTES FOR B.A LLB STUDENTS

[Pages:21]Sociology ? II UNIT ? I

NOTES FOR B.A LLB STUDENTS

Topics: a. Descent: Patrilineal and Matrilineal, Comparative study of Northern and Southern Kinship b. Concepts: Principles of Kinship, Consanguinity, Filiations, Incest Taboo and Affinity c. Forms of Marriage; Monogamy/Polygamy; Endogamy/Exogamy; Sororate/Levirate d. Forms of Family: Joint and Nuclear family

Descent: Matrilineal and Patrilineal

Descent system is one of the terms related to kinship system. Descent bind people of the same lineage together.

Types: There are many categories of descent system. They are the Unilineal, Bilateral and Ambilineal descent system.

The Unilineal descent system The Unilineal descent system could either be Patrilineal or Matrilineal decent system.

? Patrilineal Descent System This descent system, also known as the "agnatic" descent system is the most common descent system that traces an individual to the father's side or lineage. Authority and economic survival are vested on the men. The household in this type of society is male-headed which is also known as the patriarchal household. Both the male and the female children belong to their father's lineage or kin and not the mother's. This is why the children bear their father's name, inherits from their father side and have all the entitlements attached to their father's lineage. The residence is patrilocal, in patrilocal residency, the man with his immediate family members lives in his father's house. This system is found among the Yoruba and most Igbo people of Nigeria

? Matrilineal Descent System This system is also known as "uxorial" descent system. This type of descent system is not common as the patrilineal descent system. The children are traced to their mother's lineage. The

means of survival is carried out mostly by the women. This system is not the direct opposite of the patrilineal system in terms of authority. The authority is vested on the men but the economic means of survival is by the women. The maternal uncle( brother of the mother) holds a vital role in social responsibilities and inheritance. He is the social father and has a stronger relationship with his sister's children than the biological father of these children. The children pay more respect to their social father (maternal uncle) than to their biological father. The children born into such society inherits directly from their mother's side, which is mostly from their maternal uncle. Here, the king's biological son does not inherit the kingship from his father but instead, the king transfers his kingdom, title, and status to his sister's son. The residence is matrilocal as the male child marries and lives in his mother's house or matrilineal descent. Some parts of the Eastern Igbo in Abia state practice matrilineal descent system.

Principles of Kinship

Generation

Gender

Lineality Versus Collaterality

Consanguineal Versus Affinal Kin

Relative Age

Sex of the Connecting Relative

Social Condition

Side of the Family

Affinal Kinship:

The bond of marriage is called affinal kinship. When a person marries, he establishes relationship not only with the girl whom he marries but also with a number of other people in the girl's family. Moreover, it is not only the person marrying who gets bound to the family members of the girl but his family members also get bound to the family members of the girl.

Thus, a host of relations are created as soon as a marriage takes place. For example, after marriage a person becomes not only a husband, but he also becomes brother-in-law and son-inlaw. Here it may be noted that in English language a number of relations created by marriage are referred by the same term. Thus, the same term `brother-in-law is used for bahnoi, sala, jija and sadahu. On marriage a person also becomes foofa, nandoi and mausa.

Likewise a girl on marriage becomes not only a wife but also becomes daughter-in-law, she also becomes chachi, bhabhi, devrani, jethani, mami etc. Thus, marriage creates a host of relationships which are called affinal kin.

Consanguinity kinship:

The bond of blood is called consanguineous kinship. The consanguineous kin are related through blood whereas the affinal kin are related through marriage. The bond between parents and their children and that between siblings is consanguineous kinship. Siblings are the children of the same parents.

Thus, son, brother, sister, uncle (chacha), elder uncle (taoo), nephew and cousin are consanguineous kin. i.e., related through blood. In this connection it may be pointed out that blood relationship may be actual as well as supposed.

Among polyandrous tribes the actual father of a child is unknown. An adopted child is treated as if it were one's own biologically produced child. Thus, blood relationship may be established not only on biological basis but also on the basis of social recognition.

Filiations

Filiation can be defined as the relationship between child and his parents which is considered equally important from the mother's or the father's side, irrespective of the fact whether the lineage traced is patrilineal or matrilineal.

Filiation is essentially the bond between successive generations- a bond of compounded rights and identifications epitomized in the rules of inheritance and succession on one hand, and of differences and gaps symbolized in the incest taboo, and in customs of respect and avoidance. Persons are siblings in the domestic union by virtue of common filiation and with polygynous marriage, they are usually graded whether their common filiation is unilateral or bilateral.

Incest taboo:

A Taboo is a prohibition of any actions or expression based on some belief is too sacred or too accursed for ordinary people to do. If people doing that they will get some punishment based on moral judgment and religious beliefs.

Marriage ? Forms

Marriages are of different types across the world. Types of weddings are not to be confused with types of marriages, as weddings can of be of different types as per the community even if the type of marriage is Monogamous. Forms of marriage are also culturally driven and different types of marriages in the world are prevelant among varient societies. The types of marriages in sociology are as listed and explained below. Polygyny It is a form of marriage in which one man marries more than one woman at a given time. It is of two types --- Sororal polygyny and non sororal polygyny

Sororal polygyny It is a type of marriage in which the wives are invariably the sisters. It is often called sororate.

Non-sororal polygyny It is a type of marriage in which the wives are not related as sisters.

Polyandry It is the marriage of one woman with more than one man. It is less common than polygyny. It is of two types---- Fraternal Polyandry and non fraternal polyandry.

Fraternal polyandry When several brothers share the same wife the practice can be called alelphic or fraternal polyandry. This practice of being mate, actual or potential to one's husband's brothers is called levirate. It is prevalent among Todas.

Non - fraternal polyandry In this type the husband need not have any close relationship prior to the marriage. The wife goes to spend some time with each husband. So long as a woman lives with one of her husbands; the others have no claim over her. Monogamy It is a form of marriage in which one man marries one woman .It is the most common and acceptable form of marriage.

Serial monogamy

In many societies individuals are permitted to marry again often on the death of the first spouse or after divorce but they cannot have more than one spouse at one and the same time. Straight monogamy:

In this remarriage is not allowed.

Group Marriage:

It means the marriage of two or more women with two or more men. Here the husbands are common husbands and wives are common wives. Children are regarded as the children of the entire group as a whole.

Rules of Marriage

No society gives absolute freedom to its members to select their partners. Endogamy and exogamy are the two main rules that condition marital choice.

Endogamy:

It is a rule of marriage in which the life-partners are to be selected within the group. It is marriage within the group and the group may be caste, class, tribe, race, village, religious group etc.We have caste endogamy, class endogamy, sub caste endogamy, race endogamy and tribal endogamy etc.In caste endogamy marriage has to take place within the caste. Brahmin has to marry a Brahmin. In sub caste endogamy it is limited to the sub caste groups.

Exogamy:

It is a rule of marriage in which an individual has to marry outside his own group. It prohibits marrying within the group. The so-called blood relatives shall neither have marital connections nor sexual contacts among themselves.

Forms of exogamy:

Gotra Exogamy: The Hindu practice of one marrying outside one's own gotra.

Pravara Exogamy: Those who belong to the same pravara cannot marry among themselves.

Village Exogamy: Many Indian tribes like Naga,Garo,Munda etc have the practice of marrying outside their village.

Pinda Exogamy: Those who belong to the same panda or sapinda( common parentage) cannot marry within themselves.

Sororate and Levirate marriage:

Levirate marriage is the obligation of a surviving brother to marry the widow of his brother if he died without having sired children. The outcome is that the widow must marry a brother-inlaw rather than anyone outside the family. The oldest of the surviving brothers had the first obligation to perform this commandment, which also allowed him to inherit all of his dead brother's property.

Sororate marriage is the sociological custom of a man marrying or engaging in sexual activity with his wife's sister, usually after the wife is dead or has proven infertile. From an anthropological standpoint, this type of marriage strengthens the ties between both the wife's family or clan and the husband's and preserves the contract between the two to provide children and continue the alliance.

Forms of family:

Nuclear Family:

A nuclear family is a family which consists of husband, wife and their unmarried children. The size of nuclear family is very small. It is an autonomous unit. There is no control of the elders because newly weds crate a separate residence for themselves which is independent of elders. It is also known as primary family. It is an ideal family. Murdock divides nuclear family into two types such as (a) The Family of orientation and (b) the Family of procreation.

The family in which an individual is born and reared and socialized is known as the family of orientation. It consists of father, mother, brother and sister. On the other hand the family of procreation refers to the family established by the person through marriage. It consist of husband, wife their sons and daughters.

Joint or Extended Family:

Extended or joint family is large in size. It consist of a number of nuclear family. It includes members of three to four generations. It is an extension of parent child relationship. This family is based on close blood ties. It is like the joint family of Hindu Society. The eldest male member is the head of the family. Children of the family even after their marriage has little importance. Extended family consists of father, mother, their sons and their wife, unmarried daughters, grand children, grand father, grandmother, uncles, aunts, their children and so on. This type of family found to exist in rural community or agrarian economy.

Sociology ? II UNIT ? II

NOTES FOR B.A LLB STUDENTS

Topics: a. Sacred and Profane

b. Rites and Rituals

c. Communalism and Fundamentalism

d. Secularism

Religion:

Religion is one of the largest social institutions that sociologists study. Throughout history, religion has been a central part of all known human societies. Sociologists study religion to understand religious experiences around the world and how religion is tied to other social institutions. They study religion objectively, and their purpose is not to judge. They do not attempt to say whether any religion is right or wrong. Instead, sociologists try to determine why religions take a particular form and how religious activities affect society as a whole.

Sacred and Profone

Religion can be defined as a social institution involving beliefs and practices based on the sacred. To better understand this definition, let's also define two other terms: profane and sacred. We define most objects or experiences as profane, which is an ordinary element of everyday life. Objects, like beds, computers, and phones, are profane, as are experiences, like going to work or brushing our teeth. Beyond the profane, most of us also consider some things sacred, which is set apart as extraordinary or holy and worthy of honor. Objects, like the Bible and the cross, and experiences, like taking communion, are sacred to some people.

Rites and Rituals:

Rituals are typically formal social ceremonies that take place in a prescribed way, often in a sacred context. Rituals follow established customs, such as when those getting married say their vows to one another. These rituals convey information about the culture and about the participants of that culture. Those who attend recognize the ritual as having an important

meaning. Participating in a ritual provides an opportunity for an individual to fulfill a social commitment to their community of people.

A rite generally refers to a religious ritual that is an important part of a particular faith tradition: for example, the rite of baptism, or the rite of communion, which are both important to Christians. Also, some sociologists also use the word in the phrase "rite of passage," referring to a ritual that marks a person's transition from one part of their life to another-- the Bar Mitzvah and Bat Mitzvah ritual among Jews marks the transition from childhood to adulthood, for example. In other words, a rite is something holy or sacred, often a long-standing tradition that is supervised by a member of the clergy or by a person considered holy by that society or religious group.

Fundamentalism and Communalism

Religious fundamentalism refers to the belief of an individual or a group of individuals in the absolute authority of a sacred religious text or teachings of a particular religious leader, prophet, and/ or God . These fundamentalists believe that their religion is beyond any form of criticism, and should therefore also be forced upon others. Logical explanations and scientific evidences have no place in these belief systems if they work against their religious fundamentalists. For fundamentalists, religion dictates every sphere of their daily lives, and they also attempt to involve the entire society into their own belief system, often by the use of force.

Communalism refers to a politics that seeks to unify one community around a religious identity in hostile opposition to another community. It seeks to define this community identity as fundamental and fixed. It attempts to consolidate this identity and present it as natural ? as if people were born into the identity, as if the identities do not evolve through history over time. In order to unify the community, communalism suppresses distinctions within the community and emphasizes the essential unity of the community against other communities. One could say communalism nurtures a politics of hatred for an identified "other"--ex: "Hindus" in the case of Muslim communalism and "Muslims in the case of Hindu communalism. This hatred feeds a politics of violence. It is a particular kind of politicization of religious identity, an ideology that seeks to promote conflict between religious communities.

Secularism

The separation of religion and state is the foundation of secularism. It ensures religious groups don't interfere in affairs of state, and the state doesn't interfere in religious affairs.

Secularism seeks to ensure and protect freedom of religious belief and practice for all citizens. Secularists want freedoms of thought and conscience to apply equally to all ? believers and nonbelievers alike. They do not wish to curtail religious freedoms. Secularism seeks to defend the

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