Marriage forms, family systems, and how they vary across cultures
How human societies organize marriage and family, taught the way anthropology and family law describe it. Learn how marriage is defined across cultures; monogamy, polygyny and polyandry; polygamy today — how common it is, where it is legal, and its religious and legal history (from Reynolds v. United States to the 1890 Manifesto); descent systems (patrilineal, matrilineal, bilateral) and kinship terms; where couples live after marriage; the difference between matriarchy and matrilineal, matrilocal or matrifocal societies such as the Mosuo, Minangkabau and Khasi, and the debates over theories of ancient matriarchy; patriarchy — how it is defined, the main theories of its origin, and how it is measured; bridewealth, dowry and mahr; arranged and choice marriage, and the history of marrying for love; marriage law from coverture and no-fault divorce to Loving v. Virginia and Obergefell v. Hodges; marriage and divorce statistics; and child marriage under human-rights law. No culture or family form is ranked above another, contested positions are taught as positions, and legal facts that change are dated. Distinct from World Religions (faiths and texts) and Attraction & Connection (relationships between two people). Educational — not legal advice.
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