Question 1

In the caste system of India,failure to adhere to class endogamy rules traditionally resulted in a ritually impure union.

Accepted Answer

In the caste system of India, adherence to class endogamy rules was considered important to maintain purity of the caste. Failure to adhere to these rules resulted in a ritually impure union, which was believed to bring bad luck and misfortune to the families involved.

Question 2

Although briefly popular after its introduction,online dating never became a significant part of the marriage market.

Accepted Answer

Online dating has become a significant part of the marriage market, with many couples meeting and getting married through online platforms.

Question 3

With polyandry,a woman takes more than one husband at one time.

Accepted Answer

Polyandry is a form of polygamy in which a woman marries multiple men at the same time.

Question 4

Royal endogamy among Hawaiians functioned to limit the number of conflicts about royal succession-an explanation that serves as an example of the latent function of a social custom.

Accepted Answer

Royal endogamy among Hawaiians prevented outsiders from entering into the royal family, thereby keeping the succession within a smaller pool of potential heirs and reducing the likelihood of conflicts and power struggles. This is an example of a latent function, which refers to the unintended and often unrecognized consequences of a social custom or practice.

Question 5

Polygynous marriages often serve important economic and political functions,with the number of wives a man has serving as an indicator of his wealth,prestige,and status.

Accepted Answer

Polygynous marriages have historically been used as a way for men to accumulate wealth and status through the acquisition of multiple wives. In many cultures, the number of wives a man has is seen as an indicator of his success and social standing. Additionally, polygynous marriages can help to strengthen political alliances and create powerful networks within communities.

Question 6

In a study among the Hopi of northeastern Arizona,more than a third of the women of the community had been divorced at least once,which correlates with the fact that these women were socially and economically insecure.

Accepted Answer

The high divorce rate among the Hopi does not necessarily correlate with social and economic insecurity. In Hopi society, divorce has traditionally been relatively easy and free of stigma, reflecting more on the flexibility of their social structure rather than on economic or social insecurity.

Question 7

Dowries are most common in societies in which women occupy an elevated status position.

Accepted Answer

Dowries are most common in societies in which women occupy a lower status position, particularly in patriarchal societies where women are seen as burdens to their families and there is a preference for male offspring. The dowry system reinforces this gender bias and can lead to discrimination against women.

Question 8

Serial polygamy is the practice of having more than one wife,but never more than one at the same time.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Serial polygamy is the practice of having...

Question 9

How would you explain the near universality of the incest taboo? You may draw on one or more explanations.

Accepted Answer

The answer of How would you explain the near universality...

Question 10

Cross-culturally,divorce is known only in industrialized societies where a high percentage of women are gainfully employed.

Accepted Answer

Divorce has been documented in a wide range of societies, not just industrialized ones, and its occurrence is influenced by various cultural, legal, and personal factors, not solely the employment status of women.

Question 11

Early anthropologists explained incest taboos as a reflection of "instinctive horror" of mating with close relatives.However,this explanation for incest taboos has been rejected because formal incest restrictions would be unnecessary if humans really do have an instinctive aversion to incest.

Accepted Answer

This statement is true. The rejection of the "instinctive horror" explanation for incest taboos is supported by anthropological and evolutionary research that suggests cultural and social factors play a stronger role in shaping incest restrictions than innate biological aversions.

Question 12

Same-sex marriages are not culturally viable institutions.

Accepted Answer

This statement is not true. Same-sex marriages are culturally viable institutions in many countries and societies around the world. They have been legally recognized in several countries, and cultural attitudes towards them are evolving in others. It is important to recognize and celebrate diversity in all forms of human relationships and families.

Question 13

Does the practice of paying a dowry necessarily imply gender inequality?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Does the practice of paying a dowry...

Question 14

If Hannah marries her deceased husband's brother,the arrangement is considered a levirate marriage.

Accepted Answer

A levirate marriage is a practice in which the brother of a deceased man is obligated to marry his brother's widow in order to continue his brother's lineage. It is mentioned in the Bible in the book of Deuteronomy.

Question 15

In tribal societies,unlike industrial ones,marriage entails only an agreement between the people getting married; descent groups play only a minor role.

Accepted Answer

In tribal societies, marriage often involves complex agreements that include not only the individuals getting married but also their wider kinship or descent groups, playing a significant role in the arrangement and implications of the marriage.

Question 16

Using what you know about cross-cultural comparisons of marital practices,discuss the following statement: Serial monogamy is the result of a cultural emphasis on individualism,whereas polygamy is the result of a cultural emphasis on social responsibility.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Using what you know about cross-cultural comparisons...

Question 17

Homogamy is the practice of marrying within a culturally prescribed group to which one does not belong.

Accepted Answer

Homogamy is actually the practice of marrying someone who is similar to oneself in terms of background, culture, education, religion, etc. It is the opposite of heterogamy, which is marrying someone who is different from oneself in these aspects.

Question 18

In almost all cases of marriage in nonindustrial societies,some kind of preexisting social relationship between any two individuals helps determine whether they may marry.

Accepted Answer

In nonindustrial societies, marriage is often determined by preexisting social relationships between individuals, such as kinship, class, or ethnicity. This is in contrast to industrial societies where individuals may choose their own partners based on personal preference or other factors.

Question 19

One theory regarding the universality of the incest taboo argues that by forcing people to marry outside their immediate kin group,peaceful alliances between people would extend to include a greater number of individuals.

Accepted Answer

This theory, known as the Alliance Theory, proposes that by prohibiting incestuous relationships, people are encouraged to form alliances with individuals outside their immediate kin group, leading to greater social cohesion and cooperation.

Question 20

The biological degeneration explanation for the incest taboo has won over supporters because of universal concerns about biology.

Accepted Answer

The biological degeneration explanation for the incest taboo is one of several theories and has not definitively won over supporters. Additionally, the taboo is not universal across cultures and therefore cannot be fully explained by biology alone. Other explanations include cultural and social factors.

Quiz 20: Marriage