Lesson 8: Sex and marriage

A culturally sanctioned union between two or more people that establishes certain rights and obligations between the people, between them and their children, and between them and their in-laws. Such marriage rights and obligations most often include, but are not limeted to sex, labor, properly, child rearing, exchange, and status.

Biologically related relatives, commonly referred to as blood relatives by birth.

People related through marriage.

The prohibition of sexual contact between certain close relatives, usually parent-child and sibling relations at a minimum.

Marriage within a particular group or category of individuals.

Marriage outside the group.

Marriage in which both partners have just one spouse.

A marriage form in which an individual marries or lives with a series of partners in succession.

An individual having multiple spouses at the same time.

Marriage of a man to two or more women at the same time; a form of polygamy.

Marriage of a woman to two or more men at one time; a form of polygamy.

Marriage in which several men and women have sexual access to one another.; also called co-marriage.

Marriage by proxy to the symbols of someone not physically presentto establish the social status of a spouse and heirs.

Child of a father's brother or a mother's sister.

Child of a mother's brother or a father's sister.

Money or valuable goods paid by the groom or his family to the bride's family upon marriage; also called bride wealth.

A designated period of time after marriage when the groom works for the bride's family.

Payment of a woman's inheritance at the time of her marriage, either to her or to her husband.