Question: The rule prescribing marriage outside one’s group is called
- Monogamy
- Polyandry
- Exogamy
- Endogamy
Answer: (3)The correct answer to the MA CUET exam question is (c) Exogamy. The term “exogamy” refers to the rule prescribing marriage outside one’s own group. This concept is integral to the study of kinship systems and marriage practices in anthropology. Exogamy plays a crucial role in shaping social structures, maintaining social harmony, and regulating alliances between different groups within a society.
Exogamy is a social custom or rule that mandates individuals to marry outside their own social or kinship group. The emphasis is on seeking a marital partner from a group different from one’s own. The rules of exogamy may vary across cultures, and they often serve to strengthen social ties, prevent inbreeding, and establish alliances between distinct groups.
Exogamy is primarily defined through kinship rather than other social factors such as ethnicity, religion, or class. It involves the selection of a spouse from a group that is not genealogically related to the individual or their immediate kin. The purpose is to promote social diversity, prevent incest, and foster connections between different kinship units.
The enforcement of exogamous rules varies greatly across different cultures. Some societies may strictly enforce exogamous restrictions, with violations carrying severe consequences such as social ostracism or even death. In other societies, the enforcement may be more relaxed, with mild disapproval being the extent of the consequences for non-compliance.
Exogamy is often linked to descent systems within a society. Societies that follow either patrilineal or matrilineal descent may have rules of exogamy to regulate marriage patterns and alliances. Lineages, clans, or moieties, which are subunits within these descent systems, may be specified as the groups into which individuals must marry.
The concept of exogamy is closely associated with kinship structures, which are the social organizations based on familial relationships. In many societies, lineages, clans, or moieties serve as the focal points for exogamous regulations. Marrying within one’s own lineage or clan is often considered a violation of exogamous norms and may be seen as a form of incest.
One of the primary functions of exogamy is to prevent incestuous relationships. By encouraging individuals to marry outside their immediate kinship group, exogamy helps avoid the potential negative consequences of close interbreeding, such as genetic disorders. Additionally, exogamy contributes to the diversification of social and kinship structures within a society.
Many societies organize themselves into clans or moieties, and these units often serve as the basis for exogamous regulations. Marrying someone from the same clan or moiety may be considered a breach of exogamous norms. The structuring of kinship units in this way helps establish connections between different social groups and fosters cooperation.
Exogamy is a widespread practice found in various cultures around the world. Whether expressed through specific rules about marrying outside one’s clan or more general principles of avoiding marriage within one’s immediate family, exogamy is a recurring theme in the anthropology of marriage. In conclusion, the concept of exogamy is integral to the understanding of marriage practices and kinship structures in anthropology. The rule prescribing marriage outside one’s own group serves multiple purposes, including preventing incest, diversifying social structures, and fostering alliances between different kinship units. The enforcement of exogamous rules varies across cultures, and the basis for exogamy is often linked to descent systems and kinship organizations. Exogamy, as a social custom, contributes to the complexity and diversity of marriage practices observed in human societies across the globe. |
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Frequently Asked Questions:
1. Question: Define the term “ethnic movement” and provide an example from India.
Answer: An ethnic movement refers to a collective effort by a group sharing common cultural, linguistic, or religious traits, seeking to assert their identity and rights; an example from India is the Khalistan Movement in Punjab.
2. Question: Identify the main objectives behind the Gorkhaland ethnic movement.
Answer: The Gorkhaland ethnic movement primarily seeks to establish a separate state for India’s Nepali-speaking population in the Darjeeling region, advocating for linguistic and cultural recognition and political autonomy.
3. Question: What was the Operation Blue Star, and which ethnic movement was it related to?
Answer: Operation Blue Star was a military action in 1984, aiming to remove Sikh militants hiding in the Golden Temple in Amritsar; it is related to the Khalistan movement, which sought a separate Sikh country.
4. Question: Mention a critical factor that triggered the emergence of ethnic movements in India, as discussed by Dipankar Gupta.
Answer: Dipankar Gupta emphasized that ethnicity is fundamentally a political process, wherein caste and religion, the key components of identity formation, are politicized by leaders for vested interests.
5. Question: What were the primary reasons for the Assam Ethnicity conflicts involving Bodo tribals and Bengali Muslim settlers?
Answer: The Assam Ethnicity conflicts primarily stemmed from issues related to immigration, land rights, and resource allocation, leading to clashes, riots, and evolving relationships among indigenous communities to address challenges.
6. Question: Briefly describe the role of the Dravidian Movement in terms of caste and societal structure.
Answer: The Dravidian Movement, led notably by E.V. Ramasamy, aimed to establish an egalitarian society, focusing on anti-Brahmanism and advocating for equal rights for backward castes, while also introducing reforms like self-respect marriages.
7. Question: Name the prominent ethnic movements in North-East India and specify one common objective.
Answer: Prominent ethnic movements in North-East India include the Nagas’ and Mizos’ struggles; a common objective was to gain autonomy and recognition for their distinct tribal identities and cultural uniqueness.
8. Question: What is the key argument of Gail Omveldt regarding traditional Indian society and multiculturalism?
Answer: Gail Omveldt opposed romanticizing traditional Indian society, arguing that hierarchy has always dominated it and dismissing the notion that multiculturalism is an intrinsic feature of Indian society as a myth.
9. Question: Briefly explain the social hierarchy factor as a contributing element to ethnic movements as suggested by Olzak.
Answer: Olzak suggests that the construction of hierarchies among ethnic communities, which often leads to the suppression of one group by another, is a key factor that can instigate social and ethnic movements.
10. Question: Identify one consequence of the unequal economic development factor within the context of ethnic movements in India.
Answer: One consequence of unequal economic development is the marginalization and underdevelopment of certain groups, leading to feelings of alienation and sometimes initiating ethnic movements as these groups strive for equality and recognition.
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