Family and Kinship Structures

A nuclear family consists of a married couple and their children, typically living independently from other relatives.

In a patrilineal society, descent is traced through the father's line, meaning that individuals belong to their father's clan or lineage.

Polygamy refers to a marriage in which a man has more than one wife at the same time.

The Hawaiian kinship terminology system uses the same terms for both maternal and paternal relatives, such as 'mother' and 'father' for both parents.

Incest refers to sexual relations between family members who are too closely related to marry, such as siblings or parents and children.

In a matrilineal society, descent is traced through the mother's line, meaning that individuals belong to their mother's clan or lineage.

Polyandry refers to a marriage in which a woman has more than one husband at the same time.

The Iroquois kinship terminology system distinguishes between cross-cousins (children of opposite-sex siblings) and parallel cousins (children of same-sex siblings).

Exogamy refers to a marriage between two people who are not closely related, typically from different clans or groups.

In a patrilocal society, newly married couples typically reside with the husband's parents, forming an extended family household.

Hypergamy refers to a marriage in which a woman marries a man of higher social status or class.

The Omaha kinship terminology system uses different terms for maternal and paternal relatives, such as 'mother's brother' and 'father's sister'.

Endogamy refers to a marriage between two people who are from the same social class or group.

In a matrilocal society, newly married couples typically reside with the wife's parents, forming an extended family household.

Interracial marriage refers to a marriage between two people who are of different races or ethnicities.