Kinship Ties and Social Networks: Kinship by Marriage

ORGANIZATION IN SOCIETY

Objective
At the end of this lesson, you should be able to define and explain the different concepts
of marriage and discuss how marriage becomes the formation of kinship ties and social
network.

 What type of networks is formed through marriage?

 What are the different kinds of marriage and what caused their formation?
 What factors are to be considered for the residency of newlyweds?
Find out the answers in this lesson!

Review!
Kinship Ties and Social Networks
 The relations based on blood may be close or distant. The bond of blood which
binds people together in a group is called kinship.
 According to the Dictionary of Anthropology, kinship system involves socially
recognized relationships based on supposed as well as actual genealogical
bonds. These relationships are the products of social interaction and recognized
by society.
 In a broader sense, kinship can refer both to the patterns of social relationships
themselves and to the study of the patterns of social relationships in one or more
human cultures.
 A social network is a social structure comprised of individuals joined by a
particular pattern of links or relations. Social networks are indicative of a person
or an organization's relations, membership, links, and connections. It is
noteworthy that these systems serve a role in the attainment of the goals of
society.
 Through networks serving as media for the spread and exchange of ideas,
people get connected, updated, and aware. Aside from that, social networks act
as social support, which provides people information and guidance in times of
need.
Learn about it!
Kinship by Marriage
 Marriage is a formal and legal union of a man and a woman as partners in life. It
is a universal social institution that promotes procreation and establishes the
bonds that are the basis of household, family, and kinship system.
 Marriage is a legally recognized social contract between two people, traditionally
based on a sexual relationship and implying a permanence of the union. The
statuses the husband and wife acquire go through from institution to
companionship that may endure and sustain in their life cycle (Burgess and
Locke 1945). They play complementary roles to meet their materials, sexual,
emotional, psychological, and spiritual needs for their survival.
 Marriage gives the offspring a position in society as he/she may be categorized
as a legitimate son or daughter. It establishes continuing connections between
the kin of each party. It is always symbolically marked in some way, usually a
public ceremony.

Cross-cultural Marriage
Cross-cultural marriage is a marriage between two people from different cultures.

How does this happen? "Love is blind," as they say. It doesn't care about race, color or
culture. We see more and more marriages of people from different cultures.

In a marriage with a person from the same country, we already have distinct differences
once different families taught each, went to different schools, their idea of the world is
different and in general, their way of life is different. By comparison, a marriage with
people from different countries has even more differences.

Examples:

 A traditional Ifugao man is married to a liberal Catholic woman

 A Japanese woman is married to an English man
In a cross-cultural marriage, it is important to respect your spouse's native culture and
deal with the differences in a loving manner.

Here are some tips for avoiding challenges in cross-cultural marriage/relationships:

  Embrace the opportunity
 Understand, respect, and compromise
 Get first-hand experience of each other's cultures
 Pass on both cultures to your children
 Think positively about your differences
 Maintain contact with family
 When possible, travel together

Monogamy vs. Polygamy

By the number of spouses, a marriage can either be a monogamy or polygamy.

Post-marital Residency Rules

After marriage comes a new chapter in a couple's lives. One of the primary questions
couples usually are faced with is: Where to live? Kinship system, economic concerns,
and personal factors are among determining factors for residency among newlyweds.
Although not a cultural certainty, especially in this modern age, newly married couples,
opt to live with existing household than to establish their own. Now, comes the question:
Whose family is favored or culturally prescribed?

Explore!
What are the personal and societal functions of marriage?
How does marriage extend one’s social networks?

Try it!
Find a new couple and ask them a few questions based on the lesson. Using the
diagram below and the ideas acquired on your interview, write the common problems
and possible solutions of a married life.

What do you think?

Which type of marriage is culturally significant or accepted in our society?
In your observations, which type of residency is usually practiced? Which is a practical
choice for you?

Keypoints
 Kinship can refer both to the patterns of social relationships themselves and to
the study of the patterns of social relationships in one or more human cultures.
 A social network is a social structure comprised of individuals joined by a
particular pattern of links or relations.
 Marriage is a formal and legal union of a man and a woman as partners in life.
 Cross-cultural marriage is a marriage between two people from different
cultures.
 Monogamy is a wedding between two individuals at a time.
 Polygamy is a common practice among Muslims; it is the marriage of having
many spouses.
 Post-marital residency/residence rules are the rules or arrangements couples
usually consider following their wedding.